Small and brief respite from the most extreme heat

BarcelonaThis Thursday temperatures dropped a bit, but it was barely noticed and the heat returned to be extreme, with many highs from 37 to 41°C, after a sleepless night in many regions. Temperatures climbed the most in Ponent and Alt Empordà, with 41.9°C maximums in Lleida and 41.7°C in Cabanes.

We are leaving behind the peak of the heatwave that has left us with numerous records across the country, both day and night. In fact, today is already the eighth day that 40°C has been reached in the city of Lleida, a figure that equals last year's record. Meteocat has also confirmed the new absolute record in Catalonia for minimum temperature in 24 hours: yesterday Portbou (Alt Empordà) did not drop below 32.5°C all day.

On Friday, the drop in mercury will be more evident, especially in the Ebre, Ponent, and northeast regions, and on Saturday the decline will be consolidated. We will breathe a little better and the extremes of these days will no longer be reached, but the heatwave will continue, with temperatures clearly above average. However, this respite will have to be taken advantage of, because next week the heatwave will pick up again, and some meteorological models indicate that the thermometers could climb even higher than this week.

Friday: less extreme heat

Temperatures will drop in most regions, both day and night. The most significant decrease will be experienced in the northeast, Ponent, and the south of the country. We are coming from very high temperatures and it will continue to be very hot, but not as much as in the last two days. Many highs are expected between 33 and 38°C and mugginess on the coast, although in Ponent and the Ebro interior, 40°C can be reached again locally. Only yellow alerts for intense heat remain in parts of the coast and pre-coast of Barcelona and Ponent.

Minimum temperatures will drop, especially in the north of Alt Empordà, after two consecutive scorching nights above 30°C. However, overall, many tropical and torrid minimums will be repeated throughout the territory. That said, a night of contrasts will be repeated, with very heavy air near the sea and cool in the Pyrenees.

All in all with sun and new afternoon showers in parts of the Pyrenees, especially the western ones. Intense storms cannot be ruled out, as has already happened in recent days. Where it rains, it will cool down suddenly. In the afternoon, the sea breeze will blow moderately from the southeast.

Breathe before the new torrid peak

On Saturday, temperatures will drop even further, especially along the coast, the pre-coastal areas, and in the Girona regions. If 40°C is reached, it will be in isolated areas in the Ebro valley. A less extreme heat that will allow us to breathe a little better, with still sleepless nights, especially along the coast and pre-coastal areas. But be aware because next week the heatwave will intensify.

The atmosphere will become suffocating everywhere again, with sleepless nights. The temperature could reach nearly 30°C at an altitude of 1,500 m, which would be extraordinary. This suggests that the extremes reached last Wednesday may be surpassed. A situation that we will have to follow very closely.

This heatwave could last a total of ten days, and it wouldn't be until the end of next week that it would cool down. However, no significant rainfall situation is in sight that would allow for watering the thirsty forests across the country, with only afternoon showers in mountainous areas.