Year-high temperature of 43.6ºC registered in southern Catalonia
Extreme heat recorded in town of Vinebre last Friday, August 12, while the weekend saw numerous places surpass 40ºC
The latest episode of high temperatures in Catalonia saw a reading of 43.6ºC registered in the southern Catalan town of Vinebre last Friday, the highest recorded temperature so far this year.
The data is also the highest seen in that particular weather station’s 24-year history and is only 0.2ºC away from the absolute record ever seen in the Network of Automatic Weather Stations (XEMA).
That record high was seen in Alcarràs, western Catalonia, on June 29, 2019, when the heat levels reached 43.8ºC.
Between August 12-13, a total of 11 of the 153 XEMA stations more than ten years in operation saw temperatures equaling or exceeding their absolute maximum, and 24 reached their highest recorded level for the month of August.
Most of them are located in Ebre delta region in the southernmost point of Catalonia. Ametlla de Mar stands out (41.8ºC degrees), which surpassed its previous record, seen in September 2016, by two degrees.
Weather stations also saw readings of 43ºC in Torroja del Priorat, 42ºC in Aldover, 41.5ºC in Montbrió del Camp, and 41ºC in Artés.
In addition, the stations of Mosqueroles, Batea, Lleida, Castellbisbal, Òdena, Girona, and Roda de Ter recorded temperatures of between 40ºC and 41ºC.
Night temperatures have also been very high, especially near the coast, with minimums above 25ºC in the city of Barcelona.
The weekend saw numerous warnings given by authorities over the possibility of forest fires spreading, and many activities were banned for the risk of fire.