Heatwave brings highs of 41C in western Catalonia

The first day of the heatwave on Sunday brought temperatures of up to 41C in parts of western Catalonia.

According to data recorded by the Catalan Meteorological Service up to 6 pm on Sunday, the highest temperatures were registered in El Poal (41C), Lleida (41C), Mollerussa (40.5C), Vallfogona de Balaguer (40.2C), Alfarràs (40.2C) and Vilanova de Segrià (40.1C).

Civil Protection has maintained the Procicat emergency plan at alert level following the onset of the heatwave, which could bring a period of very intense nighttime heat to coastal and pre-coastal (nearby inland) areas through Tuesday. Overnight temperatures are expected to remain above 25C, resulting in torrid nights.

Temperatures are forecast to rise across Catalonia on Monday.

Since the intense heat alert period began on Friday, June 19, the Catalan Medical Emergency System (SEM) has treated 55 people for heat-related conditions. Of those cases, 58% required the deployment of an ambulance and transport to a healthcare facility, while 42% were assisted through the 061 Salut Respon health advice service.

Packed pools, quiet streets

Climate shelters such as Lleida's municipal swimming pools filled with bathers on Sunday, offering a stark contrast to the city's quieter squares and streets.

Foot traffic was noticeably heavier early in the morning, when residents took advantage of the cooler temperatures to exercise, go for walks or walk their dogs.

Jordina, a resident of Lleida, said she does not cope with the heat very well, forcing her to reorganise her daily routine.

She now prioritises walking her dog early in the morning and again at night, adding that "at home, you have to turn on the air conditioning; otherwise it's unbearable."

Marina, the mother of a three-year-old boy, expressed a similar view. She makes sure her son wears appropriate clothing and is always protected with sunscreen and a cap. She added that they take advantage of the summer "to enjoy the pool as much as possible."

Climate shelters 

As part of its response to the summer's first heatwave, Lleida City Council has activated Phase 2 of its heat prevention plan. Around 50 climate shelters have been made available to the public, including community centres, cultural facilities, senior citizens' centres, parks and tree-lined streets.

One facility considered a climate shelter is the Lleida-Pirineus railway station. However, the building's air-conditioning system is not working and temperatures exceed 30C in some areas, according to several employees.

Barcelona "lake"

Sunday's heat also drove many Barcelona residents to seek refuge in swimming pools across the city.

One of the busiest was the Can Dragó "lake," a giant outdoor pool next to Avinguda Meridiana in the Porta neighbourhood of Nou Barris.

The soaring temperatures prompted some local residents to visit the facility for the first time, including Marcos and Toñi, who chose to arrive early and leave by mid-morning to avoid the day's most intense heat.

"We liked it, it's very good," they told the Catalan News Agency (ACN).

Others, such as Francisco and Cristina, are regular visitors. Francisco comes every day for a while and believes that "it's extraordinary to come here and cool off." Cristina shares that view and says it is a "privilege" to live in the neighbourhood just five minutes away from the facility.

By mid-morning, sizeable queues had formed outside the complex, which has a maximum capacity of 2,500 people.

Tropical and torrid night

Temperatures at more than a third of stations operated by the Catalan Meteorological Service did not fall below 20C at any point overnight on Sunday night, according to Meteocat data reviewed by the Catalan News Agency (ACN).

Tropical nights were recorded at 63 of the 184 locations with available data, the highest figure so far this year and an increase from the previous night's 53.

High overnight temperatures affected almost all of Catalonia, except for the Girona area. In some locations, temperatures remained above 25C, a phenomenon known as a "torrid night."

This was the case in Barcelona, the Garraf Natural Park and Montserrat.
At Barcelona's Fabra Observatory, the minimum temperature was 26.4C – the highest recorded anywhere in Catalonia so far this year.