The date of July 18 will be etched in the memory of Catalan weather records. For the first time, the different meteorological services measured temperatures above 45ºC in the region of Alt Empordà, where there were the highest levels in the Peninsula.
The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) reported that the maximum temperature in Spain was measured yesterday in Figueres, where thermometers reached 45.3ºC, while the Meteorological Service of Catalonia (SMC) recorded as the highest temperature in Darnius and Navata, with 45.1ºC. In any case, the two marks easily beat the previous record in Catalonia, the 43.8ºC measured in Alcarràs on June 29, 2019.
The heat was not only felt in the Empordà. In Anglès (Selva) 44.8ºC were recorded; in Artés (Bages), 44.4ºC; in Banyoles (Pla de l'Estany), 44.2ºC, and in Castellnou de Seana (Pla d'Urgell), 44ºC. The SMC indicated that 35 stations out of a total of 115 of the automatic station network it manages with more than 20 years of data recorded its absolute record, that is, 30%.
Yesterday, the Government called for "maximum caution" throughout the day due to the high risk of fire, while rural agents closed access to the natural areas of Cap de Creus, Serra de Montsant, Montgrí, Garraf and Albera and Montmell-Marmellar due to the risk of fire. The maximum temperature values in the interior of the country widely exceeded 42º C, although locally they reached 44º C in parts of Girona.
To alleviate the effects of the extreme heat, the basements of Girona's cathedral were also turned into climate shelters in the Girona capital. The City Council also agreed that the churches of Mercadal and Sant Narcís act as spaces to protect themselves from the heat. In addition, people over 65 will also be allowed free access to the Devesa swimming pools, the showers in the Fontajau pavilion will be enabled and water bottles will be provided to the homeless who live in the city
The second heat wave, which affects more than half of Spain, will leave maximum values of between 38 and 42 degrees today in the center, south and east of the peninsula, as well as in the Balearic Islands.
The suffocating heat continues today due to the very "warm, dry and stable" air mass, coming from North Africa, and probably accompanied by high altitude calima. To these factors must be added the high insolation characteristic of these dates, which together with the stability and little cloudiness expected for this week will increase the heat.
Aemet notes that, once the equator has been crossed in July 2023, "practically every day has had temperatures above normal". In fact, the first 17 days of the month rank July as the third warmest month on record, behind only 2022 and 2015.
The high temperatures will activate the warnings in nine communities this Wednesday, which will be extreme (in red) in Andalusia, Murcia and the Valencian Community, according to Aemet's prediction. Specifically, the red warnings (extreme risk) will be activated in the provinces of Malaga and Alicante, where it is expected to reach 42ºC during the central hours of the day, while in Murcia the thermometers will mark 44ºC.
