Loop weather today, but some changes in sight

The weather situation remains stable, and the anticyclonic calm and intense heat will continue today. Temperatures rose further yesterday, especially inland and in the western part of the Ebro, where highs of 37 to 39°C were recorded. Local temperatures even reached 40°C, specifically in Vinebre (Ribera d'Ebre). It was an exception in a context of intense heat, but not such high levels anywhere else.

Specifically, temperatures on the Ebro will drop slightly today, Thursday, but in the northern half and in the western part of the Ebro, temperatures will rise even further. In fact, Meteocat has issued intense heat alerts in Segrià, La Noguera, Pla d'Urgell, and Les Garrigues, where temperatures could exceed 38 or 39°C. A very warm, midsummer atmosphere, with highs above 35°C in the most sweltering areas of the south and west, but far from the extremes of recent weeks outside of Ponent. There will be more low morning clouds on the southern coast and some isolated afternoon showers in the Pyrenees. The maps indicate that starting this weekend, more cold air will enter the upper reaches, causing afternoon showers to fall in more regions outside the Pyrenees, and temperatures will begin to drop.

Thursday: very calm weather

Today will once again be a very placid day. The new feature is some low morning clouds that have appeared in coastal and pre-coastal areas of Camp de Tarragona and the Ebro. But everything will clear up throughout the morning. Sunshine and calm will prevail everywhere, and only in the afternoon will new clouds grow in mountain areas, which will, at most, leave some local, minor showers in the Pyrenees or the Pre-Pyrenees, especially in the east.

As for temperatures, minimums have risen in the west and the Empordà. The night was mild overall, and even warm in coastal sections. Tropical temperatures—above 20°C—were once again recorded on the coast and in many pre-coastal areas, in the south and in the Ponent region. The night was grim in major coastal cities due to the muggy weather and the heat island effect. As happened yesterday, some torrid lows—over 25°C—have been recorded, mainly in the center of Barcelona. These are exceptions, but torrid lows have not been recorded for many days.

Highs will still rise a few degrees in the northern half of the country and in Ponent, while in the Ebro they will already retreat slightly. In all cases, the atmosphere will be very warm and summer-like. Many highs will range between 31 and 36°C, but locally up to 37 or 38°C in Ponent and the southern interior. Values above average but without the extremes of weeks ago. On the coast, the mercury will not rise as much, but the muggy weather will be quite marked.

Small changes this weekend

The weather on Friday will remain similar, although temperatures may drop a few degrees locally. Some cold air will move in from higher altitudes towards the weekend, causing some changes. Temperatures will drop further, especially inland, although it will still be fully summery.

All this with afternoon showers and thunderstorms that could gain ground outside the Pyrenees. They would mainly affect points in the west and inland of the northern half. The situation is still unclear, but with no major episodes of rain or thunderstorms in sight.