BARCELONA has broken its all-time heat record for the second time in only three years as another scorching heatwave continues to send temperatures soaring across Spain.
The mercury climbed to a piping hot 40.7C on Wednesday afternoon, surpassing the previous record of 40C set in July 2024.
The figure was recorded at the Fabra Observatory, located on Tibidabo, the iconic mountain which overlooks the Catalan capital.
Elsewhere, a temperature of 37.7C was recorded at Barcelona’s El-Prat airport – the highest reading there since 1924, according to state meteorological agency Aemet.
And in the neighbourhood of El Raval, characterised by its tight, historic streets and proximity to the iconic Las Ramblas, temperatures exceeded 38C – the second highest value ever recorded.
Much of Catalunya has been under a red ‘danger to life’ weather alert this week as Spain swelters under its second official heatwave of the summer.
A record-breaking high of 44.1C was recorded in Venebre in the Ribera d’Ebre, while large swathes of the region have been subject to tropical nights, where temperatures fail to drop below 30C overnight.
The weather is expected to cool slightly over the coming days, although portions of Catalunya will remain under a lower-level orange alert.
That includes Lleida, where temperatures could still reach 39C.
Over the weekend, warnings will drop to yellow, the lowest level, with temperatures of between 36C and 38C expected in inland areas.
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