New heatwave in Spain: AEMET warns of temperatures up to 42 degrees and haze in these areas

Spain faces a new week marked by extreme heat. The State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) predicts that temperatures will once again be well above normal in a large part of the eastern peninsula and the Balearic Islands, where they will widely exceed 40 ºC. In addition, the episode will be accompanied by the arrival of suspended dust, known as calima, and locally intense storms in different areas of the country.

As explained by AEMET spokesperson, Rubén del Campo, the atmosphere will be especially suffocating in the eastern half of the Peninsula, while the west will register more contained temperatures closer to normal values for this time of year.

Thermometers will continue to rise until mid-week

The heat will gain intensity between Tuesday and Wednesday. During these days, maximums of between 36 and 38 ºC will be reached in wide areas of the eastern peninsula and the Balearic Islands, while cities such as Lleida, Zaragoza or Murcia could exceed 40 ºC and even approach 42 ºC.

Very high readings are also expected in other capitals such as Valencia and Seville, with around 37 ºC, while Madrid, Barcelona or Castellón will be around 35 ºC. In contrast, northwestern cities such as A Coruña or León will enjoy much milder temperatures.

This heat episode will be joined by the presence of calima in a large part of the east of the Peninsula and the Balearic Islands, which will contribute to increasing the sensation of mugginess and reducing air quality.

Strong storms and possible hail

Although the predominant weather will be stable and dry, the atmosphere will continue to be unstable in some areas of the country. Both on Tuesday and Wednesday, showers and storms are expected that could be locally strong in Galicia, Asturias, the Pyrenees area and the Ebro depression.

AEMET does not rule out that these phenomena may be accompanied by hail and intense gusts of wind, especially in mountainous areas of the north and the eastern interior of the peninsula.

Instability will increase on Thursday

From Thursday, uncertainty in the weather forecast increases, although models point to an increase in instability. During that day and Friday, rain and storms could be recorded in the Cantabrian communities and the Pyrenees, with the possibility that they may also punctually affect other areas of the center and east of the peninsula.

Temperatures will tend to drop in the north, although the heat will remain very intense in a large part of the Mediterranean coast, the interior of the Valencian Community, the Region of Murcia, eastern Andalusia and the Balearic Islands, where values close to 40 ºC may still be reached.

The weekend could bring another thermal rebound

Looking ahead to next weekend, AEMET maintains the forecast of new storms, especially in the peninsular east, although the main concern once again focuses on temperatures.

If current forecasts are met, mercury will rise again generally and a new episode of intense heat could begin. Maximums would exceed 36 and 38 ºC in wide areas of the north and the Balearic Islands, while in the center and the southern half, 40 ºC would be exceeded again. In some valleys and low inland areas, 42 ºC could even be reached.

In the Canary Islands, a progressive rise in temperatures is also expected from Wednesday, with maximums above 32 ºC in the south of Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura and values close to 30 ºC in the rest of the islands.