Summer has been marked by persistent heat, with the first half of the season being the warmest on record. Although temperatures are expected to remain high for much of the week, including values exceeding 40 ºC in parts of the Lleida plain and torrid nights in Barcelona, meteorological models indicate a possible thermal normalization starting Saturday and especially Sunday.
This anticipated respite could arrive with the influx of an upper-level cold air trough, displacing the warm air mass of African origin that has caused a hazy sky and poorer air quality due to suspended dust. This haze is expected to be more intense mid-week.
If cooler Atlantic air arrives as predicted, a more significant temperature drop is expected, allowing for better nighttime rest and heat more typical of summer dates. However, models suggest normalized heat, moving away from the exceptional conditions of the past month.
The potential arrival of this cold air trough might also bring increased atmospheric instability, although uncertainties remain regarding its extent. In the meantime, heat will continue to dominate for a significant part of the week.
