After exceeding 39 degrees yesterday, today's maximum temperatures will drop, with a chance of storms in the late afternoon. The north wind will bring a slight relief, but a new heatwave is anticipated for the weekend.
The night was slightly cooler than expected after yesterday's scorching day, during which the Aemet issued a orange alert for heat in inland Gipuzkoa. Alegia recorded 39 degrees at midday, while coastal areas did not exceed 30.
The late afternoon arrival of the north wind caused temperatures to fall, although in locations like the island of Santa Clara in Donostia, the Port of Pasaia, or the Higer lighthouse, they did not drop below 20 degrees.
According to forecasts, the weekend will be hot, but this Friday will see a slight respite with maximum temperatures not exceeding 25 degrees on the coast and 35 inland, with even a threat of showers or storms by late afternoon.
An anticyclonic situation and a warm air mass from the Maghreb are behind this heat episode affecting the entire Iberian Peninsula. Forecasts suggest that a similar scenario to the end of May, when temperature records were broken, could be repeated next week.
Miguel Ángel Manjón, head of climatology at the Agencia Estatal de Meteorología de Euskadi, states that "it is likely that next week we will experience the first heatwave of the summer, as temperatures may remain above 34 ºC for more than three days".
The Aemet meteorologist adds that "current weather models show the entry of a thermal ridge from Saturday onwards, which will cause a rise in thermometers on Sunday driven by southerly winds. The anticyclone will settle over the Iberian Peninsula during the first half of the week".
Before this heatwave episode, which begins on Sunday, thermometers will offer a small reprieve. Today, temperatures will remain mild on the coast, with highs of 26 degrees thanks to the breeze, and around 30º inland, although they may increase in some valleys. Gipuzkoa is expected to end the day with storms accompanied by precipitation, originating from Álava.
On Saturday, "the absence of breeze on the coast will increase the feeling of mugginess, while inland the wind will be light or null," points out Manjón. Therefore, thermometers will mark maximums of 30 degrees on the coast and 35 inland.
In Gipuzkoa, coastal towns are likely to experience a tropical night during the early hours of Sunday, with minimums not dropping below 20 degrees. Some inland areas may experience an equatorial night, with temperatures not falling below 25º.
The Aemet meteorologist highlights that "on Sunday, the models show a significant temperature increase due to the thermal ridge, and maximums could exceed 35º, both inland and on the coast. Even at Loiu Airport, temperatures could surpass 43 degrees".
This hot start to the summer solstice will continue through the first half of next week, when suffocating heat is likely to persist until next Thursday.
