Brutal heat to engulf Spain, France this week

By Eric Leister, AccuWeather meteorologist

June 20,2017, 10:02:06PM,EDT

 

 

The historic heat that developed across much of Spain over the past week will continue this week with no relief until this weekend.
Madrid set an all-time June high temperature on Saturday when the temperature reached 40.3 C (104.5 F) at Madrid-Barajas Airport.
High temperatures will range from 35-39 C (95-102 F) each day through the weekend in Madrid.

Elsewhere, extreme heat baked southern Spain as the mercury eclipsed 44 C (112 F) in Cordoba last week. High temperatures between 39 and 42 C (102 and 108 F) are expected this week.
While not as extreme as inland locations, coastal areas including Valencia and Barcelona have endured temperatures well above normal for the past week, and this pattern will continue as well.
The only relief from the heat will be isolated afternoon and evening thunderstorms that develop each day through Wednesday.
The areas with the best chance to get a thunderstorm will be in northern and eastern Spain on Wednesday, although most locations will remain dry.
A storm system approaching from the Atlantic could finally bring relief from this dangerous heat by Sunday.
Along with a reduction in heat, there will be a chance of rain and thunderstorms, especially in northern Spain.
The dangerous heat that has built across Spain will expand northeastward into France this week.
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All of France will endure the highest temperatures of the year so far as the heat builds each of the next several days.
The high temperature reached 35 C (95 F) in Paris on Tuesday, and similar temperatures expected on Wednesday and Thursday.
The last time the temperature surpassed 35 C (95 F) in Paris in June was 2011 when the temperature reached 36 C (97 F).
The hot and humid air mass that will settle over France this week will also increase the risk for daily showers and thunderstorms.
While most locations will remain dry, any thunderstorm can produce heavy rainfall and damaging winds. Thunderstorms will also bring temporary relief from the intense heat.
A cold front will cross northern France Thursday into Friday, triggering more widespread thunderstorms but also diminishing the heat.
The front will weaken as it moves into southern France resulting in the heat wave extending into this weekend from Toulouse to Lyon and points southward.