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Just when it felt like autumn might finally be settling in, Spain is bracing for another blast of properly summery weather, with some areas set to hit 45°C by the first weekend of September. High pressure will build across much of southwestern Europe over the coming days, pushing hot air up from North Africa and bringing back conditions more typical of late July than early September.

 

There will be a bit of haze mixed in with the heat too, and a small chance of isolated rain, which becomes more likely as the week goes on. The far north of the country could see some isolated showers early in the week, and as the heat builds between Wednesday and Friday, dry storms are likely to develop in mountainous areas of the interior and east.

 

 

This burst of intense heat follows the drop in temperatures many parts of Spain saw last week. With overnight lows around 25°C and daytime highs pushing 40°C or more in places, the arrival of meteorological autumn is bringing anything but autumnal weather. A high pressure ridge, similar to several others seen across the country since mid-May, is set to settle in, drawing warm air up from North Africa.

 

Temperatures on Monday August 31 should still feel fairly manageable, but they'll climb steadily from there, with a sharper rise expected from Wednesday September 2, when highs could reach as much as 45°C in some towns in the Guadalquivir valley. Tuesday September 1 will bring highs of 35 to 40°C in parts of the southwest, while the north stays much cooler, with maximums holding around 20°C.

 

By Wednesday, highs will climb further still, reaching 30 to 35°C in many cities, with overnight lows also rising to between 20 and 25°C or more in several areas, particularly along the Mediterranean coast in the east.

 

High pressure will keep conditions settled on Thursday September 3, with mostly clear or sunny skies across the country and the Balearic Islands. Temperatures will rise further, with highs above 35°C expected across much of the interior, the Ebro Valley, Mallorca, low lying parts of the southeast and southern Gran Canaria, and up to 40°C in the Guadalquivir and Guadiana valleys. Tropical nights, where temperatures fail to drop below 20°C, are expected to return along the Mediterranean coast and across much of the southern half of the country.

 

For more weather news go to our Weather & Climate page or follow the Spain Weather Watch Facebook group for regular updates

Image: Aemet