Spain says goodbye to May with a Sunday of meteorological contrasts. The day arrives with sun and slightly cloudy skies in much of the country, but also with very intense heat in the center and south, tropical nights in several areas and storms that may be locally strong and with hail in the eastern peninsula.
The State Meteorological Agency forecasts for this Sunday, May 31, a stable day in much of Spain, although with two clear risk areas: very high temperatures in the interior of the southern half and stormy showers in mountainous areas of the eastern third.
The heat will once again be the main protagonist in Andalucía, Madrid, and much of the inland peninsula. In the Guadalquivir valley, thermometers may approach 40ºC, a figure more typical of midsummer than the last day of May.
A Sunday of intense heat in half of Spain
The atmosphere will be fully summery during the central hours of the day. Maximums will exceed 34-36ºC in wide areas of the center, south, and points of the northeastern peninsula.
The highest temperatures are expected in Andalucía, especially in the Guadalquivir valley. Sevilla and Córdoba will once again be among the hottest capitals in the country, with values that may hover around 39ºC. Very high readings are also expected in areas of Jaén, Huelva, Badajoz, Ciudad Real, and Madrid.
In the Community of Madrid, AEMET maintains warnings for high temperatures during the afternoon. The heat will be especially noticeable in the southern, western, and vegas areas, where the sensation will be of an early summer.
Up to 40 degrees in the Guadalquivir valley
The most delicate point on the map will be in the southern peninsula. The Guadalquivir valley may once again record temperatures close to 40ºC, especially during the afternoon.
It is not just a hot day. The episode comes after several days with very high values for the season, which increases the sensation of accumulated heat in homes, streets, and urban areas.
Although technically it is advisable to speak of a warm episode or anomalous heat, and not necessarily a heat wave in the strict sense, the sensation for much of the population will be clearly summery.
Tropical nights in the center, the south, and the Mediterranean
The heat will also be noticeable during the night. In the central peninsula, the southern third, and much of the Mediterranean coast, high minimums are expected, with values that may remain above 20ºC.
These tropical nights make rest difficult and cause the heat to accumulate from one day to the next. The early morning will be especially warm in urban areas and zones close to the Mediterranean, where humidity can increase the feeling of sultriness.
The fact is relevant because it marks one of the clearest features of this episode: the heat does not completely disappear when the sun goes down.
Warning for storms and hail in the east
The other main focus of the day will be in the eastern peninsula. Although Sunday will be sunny in much of Spain, in the afternoon there will be developing cloudiness in mountainous areas and locally strong storms may form.
The most exposed areas will be the Pyrenees, the eastern Iberian system and points of the eastern third. In these areas, showers may be accompanied by hail and strong gusts of wind.
Aragón, Cataluña and the Comunidad Valenciana appear among the regions most attentive to the evolution of the storms. The risk will not be widespread throughout the territory, but it will be relevant in inland and mountain regions.
Sun in almost all of Spain, but with risk in the afternoon
The general image for Sunday will be that of a sunny country. Skies will be mostly clear or cloudless in wide areas, especially during the morning.
However, that calm appearance may change in the afternoon in the eastern peninsula. The accumulated heat and instability at altitude will favor the development of convective clouds, with stormy showers that may fall heavily in specific points.
There will also be cloudiness in the north of the Canary Islands, Menorca, the Catalan coast and the Alborán area. In the early hours, clouds may appear in Galicia, the Cantabrian coast, the upper Ebro and the north of the Iberian system.
Where it will be hottest today Sunday
The areas with the highest temperatures will be in Andalucía, Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha and Madrid. The Guadalquivir valley will once again be the hottest point, with highs that may approach 40ºC.
In the central peninsula, midsummer values are expected, especially in Madrid and nearby areas. There will also be intense heat in areas of the northeast, although there the risk of storms may alter the afternoon in specific points.
In the northern half, highs will tend to drop in some areas, locally notably in areas of the north center. The exception will be in Galicia, the Cantabrian coast and Cataluña, where changes will be minor or there may even be some occasional rise.
Canary Islands: strong trade winds and clouds in the north
In the Canary Islands, the weather will be marked by the trade winds, which will blow strongly in exposed areas. Strong intervals and very strong gusts may be recorded in some places.
The north of the islands with greater relief will have more cloudiness, while the south will enjoy clearer skies. Temperatures will remain at more moderate values than on the Peninsula, although with a warm atmosphere in the areas most exposed to the sun.
Recommendations for today's heat
During this Sunday it is advisable to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun during the central hours of the day, especially between 13:00 and 18:00 hours.
It is also recommended to drink water frequently, reduce intense physical activity outdoors, wear light clothing, and pay special attention to the elderly, children, chronically ill people, and workers exposed to heat.
In areas with a storm warning, it is advisable to avoid ravines, wooded areas, and open spaces if showers with electrical activity or hail form.
An end of May with a taste of July
Sunday, May 31, leaves a very clear picture: Spain closes the month with temperatures unseasonable for the date, tropical nights, and afternoon storms in the east.
On Monday the heat will still remain in much of the country, although from Tuesday a thermal drop could begin in several areas, especially in the north and west of the peninsula.