Heatwave with over 40ºC highs to last until Friday

The latest heatwave in Catalonia is set to last until this Friday, with highs of over 40ºC.

Because of this, Catalonia's Meteorological Service, Meteocat, has issued extreme heat warnings in most Catalan counties.

Temperatures are expected to be in the 39ºC to 41ºC range in western Catalonia, 38ºC in the Pyrenees, and 35ºC to 38ºC elsewhere. 

Much of Catalonia has been experiencing tropical nights of over 20ºC or torrid ones of over 25ºC. 

The highest low temperature Sunday night was recorded in the northern Catalonia city of Portbou, not far from the Spain-France border: 30.3ºC. 

In Barcelona, the Fabra Observatory recorded a low temperature of 27.9ºC, which if confirmed would be the second-highest low in a hundred years. 

70 municipalities are considered to be at a high risk of wildfires, which is why 7 protected natural areas - Garraf, Montsant, Montmell-Marmellar, els Ports, Montsec d'Ares, Montsec de Rubies and Baronia de Rial - have been closed to the public.

This comes as Catalonia is in the midst of a 3-year drought, with many reservoirs at much lower than usual capacity.