Summer heat and thunderstorms in the afternoon

BarcelonaA new pocket of warm air from North Africa will make the atmosphere feel like midsummer throughout next week. This hot air will lower atmospheric pressure and generate a small thermal low that will favor the formation of afternoon thunderstorms, especially in the Pyrenees. In fact, this Sunday afternoon storms have already formed, accumulating 25 l/m² in a short time in La Bonaigua (2,200 m), 15 l/m² in Puigcerdà, and 3 l/m² in Núria.

This week, thermometers will remain above average, and values close to 37°C will be recorded again in Ponent or the Ebro interior. In the rest of the territory, they will easily reach 31°C or 32°C, even on the coast.

Monday with heat and afternoon showers in the northern third

Monday with heat and afternoon showers in the northern third

The thermal situation will favor the growth of convective clouds, especially during the afternoon. The same heat and a slightly low pressure will favor these afternoon thunderstorms, typical of summer. However, the models already indicate some activity in the Lleida Pyrenees, where by mid-morning it may end up cloudy with some initial showers.

Storms will break out during the second half of the day in the Pyrenees, Pre-Pyrenees, and Central Catalonia regions. They are also not ruled out in the Ports. These will be showers that, locally, may be intense, with electrical activity and some hail. In fact, Meteocat has issued a warning for the possibility of heavy rain.

Week with scattered highs and summer heatWeek with scattered highs and summer heat

Throughout the week, the heat will intensify, with the presence of an African warm air mass that will keep the atmosphere like mid-summer. In Ponent and Terres de l'Ebre, highs of 36 to 38°C are expected (the heat peaks will be on Friday and Saturday, where in Ponent they could reach 40°C). In the rest of the country, the heat will be intense and will reach up to 32°C on the coast, with mugginess.

Maximums recorded Sunday:

• Alcarràs: 36°C
• Aldover: 36 °C
• Torres de Segre 35.7 °C
• Temperature: 35°C
• Oliana: 35 °C
• La Bisbal d'Empordà: 33 °C