Balearics in the grip of another summer heatwave with high temperatures and intense heat in Mallorca this week
Spain is entering the summer heatwave, the hottest period of the year, with above-average temperatures in the east of the mainland, Catalonia, the Valencian Community, the Balearics and parts of the north-east, where temperatures could reach 40 degrees, ahead of a widespread rise in temperatures at the weekend which could lead to a “new spell of intense heat”.
According to Rubén del Campo, spokesperson for the Meteorological Agency (Aemet), this week will generally be very hot across much of the eastern part of the peninsula, as well as in the Balearics, whilst in the west of the mainland, although it will also be hot, temperatures will be more moderate and around the normal average.
Over the coming days, temperatures will exceed 40 degrees in parts of the Ebro Depression, the inland areas of the Mediterranean regions and Andalusia. Although the weather will mainly be dry, thunderstorms with heavy downpours and hail will also form in parts of the north-west of themainland, particularly Galicia and Asturias, as well as in the east and around the Pyrenees and the Ebro Depression.
However, the Aemet spokesperson added that the most “notable” development could occur over the weekend, with a widespread rise in temperatures that could lead to a “new spell of intense heat”. Maximum temperatures would exceed 36 to 38 degrees across large parts of the north of the mainland and the Balearics, and 38 to 40 degrees in the centre and the southern half; they could even exceed 42 degrees in low-lying areas and valleys in the centre and south of the mainland.
On Tuesday, the weather will remain stable, although heavy showers and thunderstorms, accompanied by hail, may once again develop in the north-west of the peninsula and in the north-east, around the Ebro basin, the Pyrenees and neighbouring areas. As for temperatures, they will rise in the interior of the mainland, with conditions once again very warm in the eastern half and the Balearics; in these areas, temperatures will generally exceed 36–38 degrees, reaching 38–40 degrees in Pamplona, Logroño, Lleida, Zaragoza, Teruel and Murcia.
On Wednesday, a further rise in temperatures is expected, most pronounced in the Mediterranean area of the mainland, the Balearics and Andalusia, whilst temperatures will fall in the upper Ebro region; overall, it will be a very hot day in the east of the mainland and the Balearics, and somewhat milder in the north-west, Del Campo explained. A Coruña will reach 25 degrees; León, 31 degrees; Madrid, Castellón and Barcelona, 35 degrees; and Valencia and Seville, 37 degrees. In contrast, Lleida, Zaragoza and Murcia could exceed 40–42 degrees.
On Wednesday, showers accompanied by severe thunderstorms and hail may also develop in Galicia and Asturias and, in particular, in the eastern interior of the mainland and in mountainous areas.
Furthermore, on both days, the heat will be accompanied by airborne dust in the east of the mainland and the Balearics, leading to a haze that will cloud the skies, reduce visibility and worsen air quality.
Thursday and Friday are likely to be characterised by atmospheric instability, with rain and showers in the Cantabrian regions and the Pyrenees, which may be locally heavy and could spread to other areas in the east and centre of the mainland.
Temperatures are set to fall over these two days, particularly in the north, whilst intense heat will continue in the east of the mainland and the Balearics: in the interior of Mallorca, the interior of the Valencian Community and the Region of Murcia, and in the east and south of Andalusia, temperatures will exceed 38–40 degrees over these two days.
