This week is set to be the hottest of the year so far across much of Spain, the country’s weather agency has announced.
After one of the rainiest winters in the almost 50 years, an unpredictable spring and a rainy week in Galicia, Castilla y León, Cantabria and Catalonia, meteorologists are predicting a dramatic shift and the start of much warmer weather, as well as summer-like conditions in some parts.
According to Spain’s State Meteorological Agency Aemet, from May 18th to the 24th we will see a steep rise in temperatures across most of the country.
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The mercury is set to reach its peak on Wednesday May 20th with values that could exceed 32 to 34C in much of the northeast and southern half of Spain.
The hottest places will unsurprisingly be in western Andalusia. Up to 34C is expected in Córdoba, 35C in Seville and 32 in Jerez de la Frontera. Extremadura will also be very hot with temperatures of 35 in Mérida and 32C in Cáceres.
The mercury will also be high in some parts of Castilla-La Mancha, rising to 33C in Toldeo on Wednesday, while Murcia city will also experience 33C.
This could also bring about tropical nights with temperatures of 20C or higher in parts of Andalusia, Extremadura and Murcia.
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Less extreme temperatures will be seen on the Mediterranean coast and in northern Spain. Valencia is expected to reach 27C by Wednesday, but could be up to 30C by Thursday.
The north coast, however, will be a lot less intense, with predictions of 21C in San Sebastián, 23C in Oviedo and 20C in A Coruña on Wednesday, rising a few degrees by Thursday.
In Catalonia, the hotter temperatures may take longer to arrive as Meteocat warns that the bad weather and instability will continue throughout Monday, with showers expected in various inland areas and along the coast of Barcelona and Girona.
From Tuesday onwards, temperatures will begin to rise. Barcelona will hover around 25-26C for the latter part of the week, as will Tarragona, but much higher values will be seen in inland parts of the region including up to 35C in Lleida.
The Balearics will also see temperatures up to 27C this week, while it will be similar in the Canaries.
The week after from May 25th to the 31st, unpredictable weather patterns will return to Catalonia, while summer-like heat is expected to continue across most of the rest of country.
Some localised showers may be possible in various parts of Spain, but generally is expected to be drier than normal for this time of year.