After a start of the week marked by contained temperatures, the situation changes clearly throughout Spain. Atmospheric stability prevails and causes a progressive rise in thermometers that will be noticed from Tuesday in practically the entire country.
The cold air retreats and gives way to a warmer mass, which will allow for a rapid recovery of higher values, exceeding 20ºC in many regions.
Where temperatures rise most from this Wednesday
The increase will be widespread, but especially intense in the north and the peninsular interior. Communities such as Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, Castilla y León, Madrid, Navarra or Aragon will register significant increases.
In some places, the increase could exceed 4ºC in a single day, and even approach 6ºC in specific inland areas like Soria, Navarra or Madrid.
Wednesday and Thursday: the heat extends throughout the country
As the week progresses, the thermal rise will continue and will move with more intensity towards the east and the peninsular southeast.
On Wednesday, 20ºC will be reached again in a large part of the territory, while in the southern half the values will be clearly higher, with maximums close to 25ºC.
Cities like Seville or Cordoba could exceed that barrier, while in places like Murcia or the Guadalquivir valley thermometers will approach 30ºC.
The weekend: the most intense heat arrives
The meteorological models point to the arrival of an upper-level ridge during the weekend, a pattern that is usually associated with stable weather and rising temperatures.
This scenario could consolidate a fully advanced spring-like environment, with values significantly above the usual for these dates in wide areas of the country.
Is it already a heat wave?
Although the temperatures will be high and unusual for April, this episode cannot be considered a heatwave.
For that situation to occur, specific criteria must be met: exceed certain climatological thresholds typical of summer, remain at least three days, and affect a significant part of the territory.
In this case, it is a notable warm episode, but still within the inherent variability of spring.