Catalonia registers its hottest summer day

Tuesday was the hottest day of the year so far in Catalonia, with temperatures reaching 41ºC.

The west of Catalonia was most affected by the current heat wave, with thermometers rising above 40ºC in parts of the Ponent and Alt Pirineu i Aran regions. According to the Meteorological Service of Catalonia (SMC), temperatures hit 41ºC in Lleida and Organyà, 40.5ºC in Baldomar, and 40.4ºC in Oliana. 

Despite the high temperatures, no major incidents have yet been reported.  

This week medical experts warned that heat-related health problems are "underdiagnosed". while a study found that there were 1,772 heat-related deaths in Catalonia last year. 

Peak heat 

Temperatures began to rise on Friday and forecasters expect Tuesday's record to be the peak for now. 

A weather balloon around 1,500 meters above Barcelona recorded two consecutive temperature records, based on 25 years of data. 

On Tuesday at noon it measured 27.8°C and on Tuesday night to Wednesday morning it measured 29.4°C, 12°C higher than the average for this time of the year. 

While Barcelona, the coast and central Catalonia did not see record temperatures due to winds from the sea, the atmosphere was particularly muggy. 

Temperatures on Monday night and Tuesday night did not fall below 20°C or even 25°C in some areas. 

Barcelona City Council activated the alert phase of its heat plan for a few hours overnight, from 8pm on Tuesday until 6am on Wednesday, after weather forecasts pointed to minimum temperatures that would exceed 25°C. 

This is the first time that the protocol has been activated at night, the result of new criteria established this year by the Catalan government. 

It is expected that the coming days will cool slightly before rising first at the weekend, and then again early next week.