The heatwave that began this week in Catalonia will be characterized by its long duration. Meteorological forecasts indicate only a slight respite at the end of the week, insufficient to make a significant difference and avoid the sensation of consecutive heatwaves.
The peak of this episode is expected between Wednesday and Thursday. In Barcelona, maximum temperatures could exceed 35 ºC, especially in the mountain areas. Nights will be particularly harsh, with minimums potentially remaining above 30 ºC during the night from Wednesday to Thursday.
The Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya has adjusted the heat danger warning in Barcelona to level 4 out of 6 for Wednesday and Thursday. Meanwhile, the red and maximum alert remains in the counties of Girona and Ponent for Wednesday, and level 5 out of 6 for Thursday. On the coast and pre-coastal areas of Barcelona, as well as in the northeast and western counties, a warning for nighttime heat remains, with minimums clearly exceeding 20 ºC. In central Barcelona, some nights the minimums could hover around 28-29 ºC.
On Friday, inland, and Saturday, on the coast, a slight influx of cooler air at altitude is expected, which could cause a minimal drop in temperatures. This decrease, in the best-case scenario, would allow for a temporary departure from the definition of a heatwave, but maximum and minimum temperatures will remain very high, and intense heat will persist.
Forecasts suggest that the current heatwave could merge with a new extreme heat episode predicted for next week, which could be even more severe. This meteorological pattern, with cold air in the western Iberian Peninsula, indicates that intense heat could extend beyond July 15th. Extreme heat is expected 24 hours a day for over a week, with July positioning itself to surpass August 2003 as the warmest month ever recorded at the Fabra Observatory in Barcelona.
