Extreme heat hits Lleida: thermometers soar to 42.4 ºC and approach a historical record

The heatwave continues to leave exceptional temperatures in Catalonia. The city of Lleida reached 42.4 ºC this Monday, becoming the highest temperature recorded before the Sant Joan festivity since measurements by the Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya (Meteocat) began. The data, recorded around five in the afternoon, is among the highest in the historical series and confirms the intensity of the heat episode affecting a large part of the territory.

The day also left records very close to that figure in other parts of Ponent. Alcarràs reached 42.1 ºC, while municipalities such as Vinebre (41.8 ºC), Castellnou de Seana (41.6 ºC), Torroja del Priorat (41.5 ºC) or Artés (41.4 ºC) also surpassed the 41-degree barrier.

Historic heat in the Lleida regions

The temperature recorded in the capital of Segrià was less than one degree from the absolute record measured before Sant Joan in Catalonia, which dates back to June 15, 2022, when the Riba-roja reservoir, in Ribera d'Ebre, reached 43.1 ºC. That same day, Vinebre reached 42.6 ºC.

Despite this, Monday's episode has already gone down in the meteorological history of the city of Lleida. Beyond the great heatwaves of June 2019, when the Lleida capital reached 43.1 ºC and 42.5 ºC on two consecutive days, such a high value had never been reached on these dates.

The heat was also particularly intense in other municipalities in the province of Lleida, such as Vilanova de Segrià (41.9 ºC), El Poal (41.7 ºC), Gimenells (41.6 ºC), Alfarràs (41.6 ºC) or Torres de Segre (41.5 ºC). In fact, in several towns in Ponent, thermometers remained above 40 degrees well into the afternoon.

More than 41 degrees in several parts of Catalonia

Extreme temperatures were not limited to western Catalonia. In Central Catalonia, Artés recorded a maximum of 41.4 ºC, clearly above the 40.4 ºC reached in Cardona.

In Camp de Tarragona, the Priorat region was one of the most affected by the heat, with values of 41.5 ºC in Torroja del Priorat and 40.4 ºC in El Masroig. The Terres de l'Ebre also experienced a suffocating day, with Vinebre's 41.8 ºC surpassing the records of other points in Ribera d'Ebre, such as the Riba-roja reservoir (39.9 ºC) or Ascó (39.7 ºC).

Temperatures were somewhat more moderate in the regions of Girona and in the metropolitan area of Barcelona, although very high values were also reached. Castellbisbal, for example, recorded a maximum of 39.7 ºC.

The weather forecast maintains the alert for high temperatures and it is not ruled out that the heatwave will continue to leave exceptional records during the coming days.