Highs of 42ºC recorded as heatwave rages on

The current heatwave rages on throughout Catalonia. 

Wednesday saw the hottest day of the currently ongoing period of extended heat, with 42ºC recorded in parts of the coast, the south-west, and west of the territory.

According to the Meteorological Service of Catalonia (Meteocat), Wednesday's maximum temperature exceeded yesterday's near the coast. 

As such, the heat danger has been raised to a very high level in some regions of the western part of the territory. 

In Barcelona, a new record was broken when the Fabra Observatory recorded a minimum temperature of 29.5ºC.

The city council has activated the daytime alert phase of the Heat Plan, while maintaining the emergency measures in place for tropical nights. 

The council activated a team on the streets to distribute information, caps, and water bottles to homeless people in vulnerable situations, while also informing them of various climate shelters open in the city. 

There are up to 230 climate shelters open in Barcelona on hot days, and at least a hundred on the days when fewer spaces are open. "Despite the fact that some facilities close for summer hours, as many as possible are kept open to serve the population, and in extreme cases, the Heat Plan is activated, as it is on these days," council sources say.