Intense heat and heightened wildfire risk forecast in Catalonia on Sunday

Catalonia is bracing for another day of intense heat, with wildfire risk expected to become higher and more widespread across the region on Sunday.

The Generalitat’s Civil Protection authority convened its technical monitoring committee on Saturday to assess the combined threat of forest fires and daytime heat. The Infocat and Procicat emergency plans remain on alert.

The Catalan Meteorological Service, Meteocat, maintained heat warnings for Saturday and Sunday, particularly during the afternoon and across much of the territory. Inland areas are expected to face the greatest impact. In Lleida, temperatures could reach 8 to 10 degrees above the average for September.

Friday was Catalonia’s hottest September day on record in the Meteocat network, with 77 of 128 stations registering a September temperature record. Maximum temperatures exceeded 40°C in the Ebro Valley and reached 42.5°C in Vinebre, Tarragona.

Sunday’s weather is expected to further increase the danger of forest fires. An area of high pressure will bring dry conditions, low humidity and little wind. Temperatures are forecast to remain above the climatic average until Tuesday, followed by a notable decline from Wednesday.