With several regions on the highest red-level alert and temperatures topping 40C, many in Spain are wondering how long the second heatwave of the summer will last.
Spain is currently suffering its second summer heatwave, with the mercury soaring beyond 40C in places and large swathes of the country under heat alerts.
As of Tuesday morning, three regions are under the maximum red-level alert and several others under medium orange-level.
Aragón, Catalonia and Valencia are all predicted to be among the worst hit in not only Spain but southern Europe more widely.
A red alert warns of “very serious impacts” on health and property.
READ ALSO: What Spain’s different heat alerts mean and how to act in each case
How long will Spain’s heatwave last?
Of course, sweltering temperatures are nothing new in Spain during the summer.
However, in this latest heat snap, temperatures will not fall significantly until at least Thursday, forecasters show.
Until then, highs of 42C in the south and sweltering nights in parts of the Mediterranean and inland regions are expected, according to a spokesperson for Spain’s Meteorological Agency (Aemet).
Looking at Aemet models, on Tuesday and Wednesday the sweltering temperatures will continue and there will be little rain, although clouds will build up, potentially bringing isolated showers with light rain but accompanied by lightning – something that will increase the risk of wildfires as Spain battles several blazes throughout the country.
READ ALSO: MAP – How to find out where Spain’s active wildfires are
Tuesday and Wednesday will see continued very high temperatures. Regionally, daytime temperatures will fall along the northern Cantabrian coast but rise in the east and in the Balearic Islands.
Temperatures will exceed 38-40C in large parts of the eastern peninsula, the Balearic Islands, and the central and southern areas of the country.
Temperatures set to fall from Friday
From Friday onwards, temperatures are most likely to fall, which could signal the end of the heatwave.
A look at Aemet’s map shows that by the end of Thursday 9th, no region of Spain is forecast to be under red alert.
Rather, besides a cluster of orange level alerts remaining in north eastern Spain, many areas of the country will from Friday be at low-level yellow alert level or no heat alert at all.
Photo: Aemet.
An Aemet statement says that: “From Thursday 9th onwards, a cold depression is expected to move in from the west, bringing a significant change in air mass that will bring the heatwave to an end.
“Whilst temperatures will generally fall across the southwest on that day, we will continue to see very high temperatures in the northeastern and southeastern thirds of the country, as this will be the final day of the heatwave.”
Even so, despite the heatwave likely ending, at least on meteorological terms, temperatures will remain high across much of Spain, as is normal in summer.
In fact, on Friday temperatures are likely to exceed 36C again across large areas and reach 38–40C in eastern regions and the Balearic Islands.
Forecasts show that the weather will be milder over the weekend, with more bearable heat in the west of the mainland, but the intense heat is set to continue in the east and the Balearic Islands.
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