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Before the bank holiday weekend, the Region of Murcia, while still suffocatingly hot, was spared the worst of the heatwave that has been baking much of Spain for more than a week. But boy did it make up for that on Sunday!

 

Early afternoon data on August 17 confirmed that virtually all inland municipalities exceeded 40ºC. Only a handful of coastal towns and the likes of Moratalla, Caravaca de la Cruz, Bullas and Fuente Álamo remained below this threshold. However, temperatures also soared past 35ºC on the coast, so there was little respite for the thousands of Murcianos who took refuge on the beaches over the long weekend.

 

The bad news is that we’re in for similar temperatures on Monday August 18; the good news is that the thermometers should take a welcome dip for the rest of the week.

 

Aemet expects another scorching day on Monday and has issued a red alert in the Vega del Segura region for highs that could reach an incredible 45ºC. The rest of the Region of Murcia will remain under orange alert: Campo de Cartagena, Valle del Guadalentín, the Northwest and the Altiplano are all expected to exceed 40ºC.

 

These alerts will be in effect from 1pm until 9pm this Monday.

 

Despite the heat, it will become cloudy from midday onwards, with isolated afternoon thunderstorms possible, some dry, which may be accompanied by very strong wind gusts.

 

All of the heat alerts have been lifted for Tuesday with the exception of the Vega del Segura, but this has also been downgraded to yellow as highs of 37ºC or 38ºC are forecast. Elsewhere, it will be relatively cooler than the previous couple of days.

 

Partly cloudy skies are expected, more overcast in the north of the Region, where there is still a chance of dry thunderstorms.

 

Mid-week will bring a bit of relief with some more cloud cover and a Region-wide drop in temperature. Even so, the thermometers will hover between the mid to high-30s throughout Murcia.

 

Cloudy skies are forecast on Thursday with a chance of showers everywhere but the coast, especially in the afternoon. Day-time temperatures will fall again and it should be noticeably cooler inland.

 

Minimum and maximum temperatures in Murcia this week

 

• Monday August 18: Min 22ºC; Max 44ºC
• Tuesday August 19: Min 19ºC; Max 38ºC
• Wednesday August 20: Min 17ºC; Max 36ºC
• Thursday August 21: Min 17ºC; Max 34ºC

 

 

>>> Follow our Murcia Weather Watch Facebook group for more weather updates or see our Weather & Climate page <<<

 

Images: Aemet