Catalonia is set for a sharp rise in temperatures by late June, with some areas possibly reaching 40C around Sant Joan. The forecast follows an unusually warm May, according to meteorological data.
The official start of summer on 21 June is expected to be followed by a further increase in heat. In Barcelona, maximum temperatures could go above 30C, with minimums of 24C, close to what forecasters describe as torrid nights, when temperatures stay high overnight.
The hottest period is forecast for the week of 22 June, which coincides with Sant Joan, a major date across Catalonia and other Mediterranean towns. Beaches along the Catalan coast have already been busy since late May, and Barcelona reached 30C over the past weekend, according to the Raval weather station.
Across Catalonia, temperatures were close to 37C on Sunday. Vilanova del Segrià recorded the highest figure at 36.9C, while Lleida - la Femosa, Vinebre and Mollerussa also went above 36C.
The heat is being linked to subtropical anticyclones expected to affect southern Europe, bringing extreme heat and torrid nights across much of Spain. The European weather model points to abnormally high temperatures in late June, similar to conditions seen in late May. Vinebre recorded an absolute May record of 39.5C, while Barcelona saw night-time temperatures of 25C.
Forecasters expect the July-like temperatures to continue through the end of June. The rise in heat raises concerns about public health and water use as Catalonia moves into the peak summer months. For more local coverage, see our news page.
