The slight drop in temperatures across Catalonia, caused by northerly winds at the start of July, will be short-lived. The second heatwave of the summer is expected to arrive soon and persist for part of the coming week.
The Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya (Meteocat) has already issued an early warning due to the possibility that, between Sunday and at least Wednesday, the thresholds defining a heatwave may be exceeded. The alert indicates that inland areas will be the most affected, with temperatures potentially surpassing 40 ºC with ease.
The arrival of a strong anticyclone from the weekend onwards will cause a stagnant atmospheric situation. Intense solar radiation will heat the air, and an associated descending air mass (subsidence) will intensify this warming, creating a "heat dome" due to a lack of ventilation.
Unlike previous episodes, this time the air mass is not expected to originate from Africa, demonstrating that not all heatwaves stem from that region. Weather models largely agree on this scenario, with a primary focus on the Iberian Peninsula, Madeira, and the Canary Islands.
In Barcelona, a significant heat peak is anticipated between Sunday and Monday, with intense heat potentially prolonged both day and night, although nights might be more comfortable than in previous episodes.
