The heat wave in Catalonia will last until Friday, as reported by the Meteorological Service of Catalonia (Meteocat) on Monday. After Barcelona and Girona experienced the second warmest night ever recorded (with minimums starting at 28°C, and in most places, higher), Meteocat has warned that there are still a few days left with temperatures that will exceed 40 degrees in several parts of Catalan territory. Given this forecast, advisories of dangerous heat levels have been activated in most Catalan counties, and they include warnings to give special attention to the risk of fire throughout the country.
During the early hours of Monday morning, extraordinarily warm temperatures were already recorded, to the point that much of the territory experienced a tropical night (with minimums above 20 degrees) or a torrid night (with minimums of above 25 degrees) ). In Portbou (Alt Empordà), for example, the highest minimum of the night was recorded: 30.3 degrees, which is considered a scorching night. But it seems that even worse is yet to come, as both minimum and maximum temperatures are forecast to rise over the next few hours and days.
Over 40 degrees for five days
In this context, Meteocat has activated intense heat warnings with a high danger level in most regions of the territory for both Monday and Tuesday. At the same time, the danger for intense nocturnal heat on the Catalan coast remains active. According to the weather service, the forecast says that the heat wave will be "persistent," "extensive" and will last "at least" through until Friday.
In the next few hours, it is likely that the maximum temperature will be between 39°C and 41°C at points in the Ponent - the eastern, interior part of Catalonia - while it is not ruled out that they will exceed 40 degrees for more than five consecutive days. In the Pyrenees, maximum levels will reach 38°C; and in the rest of the territory, between 35°C and 38°C. In fact, on Sunday temperatures already exceeded 40 degrees in several places around the territory such as Albesa, north of Lleida city, which recorded the highest temperature of the day (40.7°C). The 40 degree threshold was also exceeded in Femosa de Lleida, Castellnou de Seana, Vinebre, Seròs, Artés, Alcarràs and Gimenells.
The first heat wave
You may not believe it, but is the first heat wave of the summer in Catalonia, since previously the intense heat we have experienced in Catalonia did not last for so long - between one and two days - and was therefore defined as an episode of intense heat, of which Catalonia has had three this summer. Until severe heat thresholds are exceeded for at least three consecutive days, the phenomemon is not classed as a heat wave. This time, however, the high temperatures are expected to last until Friday. The Meteocat forecast indicates that it will be from Saturday when a "clear drop" in temperature will begin, at the same time as rain will arrive. However, it is true that there is a high degree of uncertainty with reference to the amount and extent.
The heat wave is also marked by "exceptional" night temperatures, with record levels in several parts of the territory this Monday. The minimum temperature did not fall below 20°C in a large part of Catalonia, with minimums of 25°C in Barcelona, much of the Central coastal area, the Empordà in the north, elevated sectors of the central pre-litoral ranges and even in the interior. At the Fabra Observatory in Barcelona, a record minimum has been registered, of 27.9°C. It is the second highest minimum recorded at this station, since the record was set on August 8th, 1923 (28.6 degrees). Unusually high minimums have also been recorded in the Garraf natural park (28.1°C), Barcelona's Raval (27.8°C), the Badalona Museum (27.7°C) and the Queralt Sanctuary in Berga (26.7°C).