Catalonia records its hottest September day on record

Catalonia has recorded its hottest September day so far, with temperatures rising above 40°C and reaching 42.5°C in Vinebre, in Ribera d’Ebre. Barcelona also recorded its highest temperature for September.

The Fabra Observatory measured a minimum of 27.1°C during the night from Friday into Saturday. It was the observatory’s first torrid September night, defined as one in which temperatures do not fall below 25°C. The previous highest September daily minimum in Barcelona’s 1914-2026 climate series was 24.8°C, recorded on Sept. 9, 1966.

The heat affected the whole of Catalonia. Temperatures remained above 30°C in several places at 11 p.m. Friday, while Barcelona was still recording 26°C at 6 a.m. Saturday. Meteocat said Friday produced historical readings at 77 of its 128 stations with more than 20 years of records, particularly in inland counties.

Exceptional heat continued, with temperatures above 40°C in parts of Ponent and 41.2°C in Alcarràs. New September records were recorded at 64 of the 128 long-running stations, in many cases surpassing the records set the previous day.

Meteocat issued an orange warning for Priorat, Ribera d’Ebre and Baix Ebre, where temperatures were expected to approach 40°C. Authorities also warned that temperatures could reach 40°C in the Catalan prelittoral and central depression, as well as in parts of the Pyrenees. Catalonia’s civil protection service activated an intense-heat alert, while Spain’s weather service warned of very high or extreme wildfire danger across broad areas of the country. Interior Minister Núria Parlon urged residents to take extra care.