Catalonia is facing its third heatwave of the summer, with high temperatures and extreme wildfire danger prompting restrictions on access to some natural areas and a maximum fire risk alert for 72 municipalities in Barcelona, Tarragona and Lleida provinces.

For residents, walkers and weekend visitors, the immediate consequence is practical: some countryside access is restricted, fire danger is at its highest in dozens of towns, and authorities are asking people to avoid behaviour that could spark a blaze as temperatures climb. According to Europa Press, the 72 municipalities were under extreme fire danger on Sunday.

The current heatwave began on Sunday 5 July and was expected to last until at least Wednesday, according to Euro Weekly News, which reported that Meteocat, Catalonia's meteorological service, had activated its highest heat alerts for inland areas where temperatures could exceed 43C.

Catalonia authorities are calling on residents to exercise utmost caution over health risks and fire dangers throughout the heatwave.

Extreme heat and fire danger at the same time

Euro Weekly News reported that red-level heat alerts were activated for inland parts of Catalonia from Tuesday midday, with orange and yellow warnings covering the rest of the region. It said temperatures were expected to remain extreme through the afternoon and evening, with further nocturnal heat warnings on Wednesday and overnight lows above 27C in some areas.

Turkey's Anadolu Agency, citing Spain's state meteorological agency, reported that Spain's third heatwave of the summer would affect 30 provinces and that parts of Catalonia were among the areas expected to reach 42C to 44C.

The health risk is also mounting. According to the MoMo mortality monitoring system operated by the Carlos III Health Institute, cited by Euro Weekly News, 213 deaths attributable to high temperatures were recorded nationally in the first days of July. The same report said 57 of those deaths were in Catalonia.

Restrictions affect natural areas and outdoor plans

The heat is coinciding with severe concern about forest fires after a string of recent blazes in Catalonia. Previous restrictions on access to natural spaces have already been used this summer when fire danger rose sharply.

For people planning walks, rural drives or time outdoors, the key point is that restrictions can change quickly depending on local risk levels. The municipalities named in the extreme risk warning are in the provinces of Barcelona, Tarragona and Lleida, according to Europa Press.

  • The heatwave began on Sunday 5 July and was expected to continue until at least Wednesday.
  • Meteocat forecast temperatures above 43C in inland Catalonia.
  • Seventy-two municipalities were placed under extreme fire danger on Sunday.
  • Catalonia accounted for 57 of the 213 heat-related deaths recorded nationally in the first days of July, according to MoMo data cited by Euro Weekly News.

Anyone heading into rural or wooded areas should check local restrictions and weather warnings before travelling, especially in inland districts and fire-prone zones where access limits may be imposed at short notice.

Reported by system, euroweeklynews.com, aa.com.tr, Albert Diumenjó Segalà, Xavi Segura, catalannews.com, Rafael Medrano, Germán González, Laura Fíguls Barnaus / Acn, thelocal.es, catalan.news, europapress.es, russpain.com, Nuria Martínez.