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Spain braces for 44ºC before dramatic weekend cool-down: Weather forecast July 23-26
Murcia, Alicante, Valencia and Andalucía face another day of extreme heat before temperatures begin to ease
Weather alerts on Thursday July 23
Spain's third heatwave of the summer is heading towards its peak, with temperatures expected to reach a sweltering 44ºC in some areas before a long-awaited change arrives later in the week.
The latest heatwave has already delivered some remarkable temperatures. On Tuesday July 21, Lorca in the Region of Murcia hit 42.8ºC, while Albox in Almería reached 42.7ºC. Overnight temperatures have also been exceptionally high, leaving many people struggling to sleep as tropical nights continue across large parts of the country.
The good news is that forecasters say relief is finally on the way, although much of Spain still has another couple of days to endure before temperatures begin to ease.
Thursday July 23
Thursday is expected to be both the final official day of the heatwave and, for many areas, the hottest.
Large parts of eastern and southern Spain will remain under weather alerts as temperatures continue to soar. The hottest spots are likely to be the Guadalquivir Valley, the Ebro Valley and inland areas of Valencia, Alicante and the Region of Murcia, where highs of between 42ºC and 44ºC are possible.
Temperatures above 40ºC are also expected across parts of Aragón, Castilla-La Mancha, Andalucía and the Valencian Community.
Meanwhile, the first signs of change will begin to appear in western Spain and along the Atlantic coast, where temperatures should start to fall slightly.
Friday July 24
Friday marks the beginning of the end for the heatwave as cooler Atlantic air starts to spread across the country.
Even so, it will remain extremely hot in parts of eastern Spain. Areas including Murcia, Alicante, Valencia, Albacete and eastern Andalucía could still see temperatures top 40ºC in places.
Elsewhere, temperatures will gradually become more manageable, allowing weather agencies to officially declare the heatwave over.
Saturday July 25
Saturday should feel noticeably different across much of Spain.
Cloudier conditions are expected in northern regions, where some showers could develop, particularly around the Cantabrian Mountains and the Pyrenees. Most other areas will enjoy sunshine and much more comfortable temperatures.
The only places likely to continue experiencing intense heat will be parts of the Mediterranean coast, including the Region of Murcia, Almería, the Valencian Community and the Balearic Islands, where temperatures could still exceed 35ºC.
Tropical nights are also expected to linger along parts of the Mediterranean coastline.
Sunday July 26
The weekend will end on a calmer note as stable conditions return to most of Spain.
Sunshine will dominate across much of the country, although some cloud and isolated showers remain possible in the far north and around the Pyrenees.
Temperatures will remain well below the peaks seen earlier in the week, although inland areas of Andalucía and parts of the Segura river basin could still approach 35ºC during the afternoon.
After several days of extreme heat, Sunday should offer a much more comfortable end to the week, with many areas returning to temperatures closer to what would normally be expected for late July.
For more weather news go to our Weather & Climate page or follow the Spain Weather Watch Facebook group for regular updates
Images: Aemet
