Catalonia gets ready for weekend under heavy sun
Territory at high danger due to heat with areas reaching 42ºC while cities offer free entry to swimming pools and set up refreshing areas
Catalonia is getting ready for a weekend under heavy sun and reaching high temperatures. Catalan Meteocat weather service has set heat danger to the highest level during the upcoming days because of the heatwave affecting the territory.
On Friday, temperatures surpassed the 34ºC on the coastline, while inland Catalonia recorded over 42ºC in some areas. This will continue during the weekend and the upcoming week, experts warn.
In fact, on Saturday, minium temperatures will not go lower than 20ºC or even 25ºC on the coast. As the previous day, heat will be extreme as some areas will surpass, once again, the 42ºC mark. On Sunday, Catalans will experience a similar situation as the territory is at the highest level of danger because of high temperatures.
After the warm weather during the weekend, Catalans will return to work, but this time, still under heavy heat. Despite high temperatures again on the first day of the week, danger levels will decrease around the vast majority of the territory, according to experts.
⚠ Actualitzat l'avís de situació meteorològica de perill (#avisosSMP) per calor ⚠
— Meteocat (@meteocat) July 15, 2022
➡ Ds. 06.00 TU a dl. 18:00 TU
➡ LLindar que es pot superar: onada de calor
➡ Grau de perill màx. 🔴 6/6 pic.twitter.com/w78xOlUHAe
Cities get ready
Meanwhile, cities across Catalonia have been getting ready to help ease the heat on their citizens. In the northern towns of Girona, some have offered free entrance to public swimming pools, set refreshing areas, or moving outdoor shows under the shadow.
Riudellots de la Selva is one of the several towns offering free entrance to public pools between 1 pm and 3 pm, same to what Llagostera did. Meanwhile, in Palafrugell, the city council set up some refreshing areas. In fact, the seaside town of Palafrugell is well known for its beaches and its Cantada d’Havaneres in early July, a typical music genre from ‘Indians’. La Bisbal d’Empordà, capital of the Baix Empordà county, has moved its Circus on the Street fair shows to places under the shadow.
Girona, one of the most important cities in Catalonia, has banned entering any forest areas in the town, whether by car or walking. The city council has also banned barbeques and has set three "refugis climàtics" refugees to freshen up around the town.
In Barcelona, authorities have mobilized people to take care of vulnerable residents while the temperatures are really high. Some volunteers will walk down the streets during midday to offer water to homeless people.
Catalonia bans camping and outdoor activities
The Catalan government has banned outdoor activities, including camping and walking in natural parks, in 275 towns during the ongoing heatwave. The executive wants to avoid wildfires due to the high risk of them starting, given the current conditions.
Authorities have increased the Pla Alfa risk plan to level 3 in the different municipalities that are spread out across 20 counties. One of the other measures is also to prohibit the entry to the natural parks of Montgrí, Cap de Creus, l’Albera, Gavarres, Montsec d'Ares, Montsec de Rúbies, Baronia de Rialp, Montserrat, and Sant Llorenç del Munt i l'Obac.
The areas under restriction are spread out across the territory. In the below map, the parts in dark red are where the 275 municipalities are located, and the parts in black show where access is restricted.
Demà s'activarà el nivell 3️⃣ del Pla Alfa a 2️⃣7️⃣5️⃣ municipis.
— Agents Rurals (@agentsruralscat) July 14, 2022
📛 Es tancaran els accessos a: Montgrí, Cap de Creus, L'Albera, Les Gavarres, Montsec d'Ares, Montsec de Rúbies, Baronia de Rialb, Montserrat i Sant Llorenç de Munt i l'Obac.
⚠️ Precaució!
👉 https://t.co/YXJGsYSIVW pic.twitter.com/rCzYAEWPow