The scorching peak of the heatwave will give way to a sleepless night
The temperatures will drop a little in the coming days, but with no cooling in sight
BarcelonaThe heatwave peaked this Monday, with values between 8 and 13 degrees above average in the interior and the Pyrenees. Temperatures have risen even further, and many maximums have ranged between 35 and 40 ºC in the pre-coastal areas and inland. But these figures have been surpassed in Ponent, as well as in parts of the Ebro and other inland areas. The extraordinary 43 ºC recorded in Vilanova de Segrià stand out, which is the highest temperature reached so far this year in Catalonia. Tropical and torrid minimums have also been recorded in many areas (you will find all the most outstanding data on the extreme heat of the last few hours at the end of this information).
And pay attention this coming night, as it will be very warm and difficult to sleep in many regions, with many tropical minimums, but torrid ones will even extend near the sea. From Tuesday onwards, thermometers will drop a little, but the heat will continue to be very intense and extreme. And there is no clear end to this situation in sight, as the anticyclone and the warm gust with suspended dust from North Africa will continue to affect our latitudes.
Tuesday: slight drop in mercury
The night and early morning of Monday to Tuesday will be very warm and difficult to sleep in many regions, even more so than the previous one. Minimum temperatures will be tropical in many areas – above 20 ºC –, but torrid – above 25 ºC – in many coastal areas, especially in large urban areas due to the heat island effect. Meteocat has activated alerts for night-time heat in several regions of Barcelona, Ponent, and Central Catalonia.
Regarding the maximums, they will decrease slightly overall, but we will barely notice the change, as we are coming from so high up that it will continue to be very hot in general. Most values will range between 32 and 38 ºC, with very intense mugginess on the coast. In Ponent and the Ebro valley, temperatures will again approach 40 ºC. Meteocat maintains alerts activated for intense heat in inland areas and the western Pyrenees. The sun will dominate, with a dusty sky due to suspended dust, and afternoon clouds that will leave some irregular showers in the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees – especially in the western part – and in nearby inland areas. In fact, in inland areas there may be dry thunderstorms, with strong gusts of wind, which will increase the risk of fires.
The weather for Saint John's Eve
Saint John's Eve will be one of the warmest on record, with tropical lows in many places and again scorching temperatures in coastal stretches. Beyond the heat, the night will be pleasant and enjoyable, with no rain anywhere. The afternoon showers from the north of the country will have completely cleared by dinner time, and apart from remnants of some clouds and the presence of suspended dust, there will be no impediment to enjoying this magical night. However, be careful with fire and fireworks, as the risk of fires will be very high.
Intense heat without respite
Although the extremes of Monday will no longer be reached, temperatures will remain very high for the season throughout the week. 35 ºC will continue to be exceeded in many inland areas, with marked mugginess on the coast and sleepless nights in several counties. A clear cooling or normalization of thermometers is not in sight, with only some rises and falls of the mercury.
All this with sun, calm and suspended dust. Only some irregular afternoon showers or thunderstorms will be repeated in the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees, which by Sant Joan could even reach more nearby areas of the interior. In any case, no significant change in weather is in sight.
Balance of the heatwave peak
The peak of the heatwave has left extreme temperatures across the country today. Temperatures have reached or exceeded 40 ºC in many inland areas, especially in Ponent. The 43 ºC maximum recorded so far at the Aemet station in Vilanova de Segrià stands out, the highest temperature so far this year in Catalonia. But also the 42.1 ºC in Alcarràs (Segrià), the 41.8 ºC in Vinebre (Ribera d’Ebre) or almost 40ºC in Castellbisbal (Vallès Occidental), among others. These are the highest maximums (until 6 p.m.).
- 43 ºC: Vilanova de Segrià
- 42.7 ºC: Lleida (Aemet)
- 42.4 ºC: Lleida - La Femosa
- 42.1 ºC: Alcarràs
- 42.1 ºC: Alfarràs
- 41.8 ºC: Vinebre
- 41.7 ºC: el Poal
- 41.7 ºC: Algerri
- 41.6 ºC: Castellnou de Seana
- 41.6 ºC: Gimenells
- 41.5 ºC: Torroja del Priorat
- 41.5 ºC: Torres de Segre
- 41.4 °C: Artés
- 41.2 °C: Tremp
- 40.9 °C: Sant Romà d'Abella
- 40.2 ºC: Sant Salvador de Guardiola
On the coast, the mercury has not shot up so much, although temperatures have also exceeded 30 ºC, with particularly heavy mugginess. The previous night was torrid in densely populated coastal areas and at high altitudes along the coast and pre-coast, with minimums of 25 or 26 ºC, due to thermal inversion. Notable minimums include 26.4 ºC at the Fabra Observatory, 25.9 ºC in Montserrat, 25.4 ºC in the Raval neighborhood of Barcelona, and 25.3 ºC in the Garraf Natural Park.