Temperatures in the province of Ourense are climbing toward a peak of nearly 38°C in the Miño valley between Sunday and Monday, driven by a ridge of warm air originating from the Sahara. According to forecasts from AEMET, MeteoGalicia, eltiempo.es, and Meteored, the high-pressure system in the mid and upper levels of the atmosphere is pushing hot air across a large part of the Iberian Peninsula.
Thermal Rise and Peak Forecasts in Ourense
The upward trend begins on Friday with maximum temperatures surpassing 32°C in the city, following a high of 30.8°C on Thursday, according to regional forecasts. Conditions grow hotter on Saturday as thermometers climb past 35°C. The most intense heat of the episode arrives Sunday and Monday, when peak afternoon temperatures could exceed 37°C while overnight lows hover around 17°C.
This intense heat wave is projected to last for four days before conditions begin to shift. A gradual cooling trend starts on Tuesday and solidifies on Wednesday, when daytime highs drop sharply to 28°C. According to meteorological models, this drop of roughly 9°C compared to the peak is driven by the arrival of cooler air sweeping in from the Atlantic.
Broader Impact Across the Iberian Peninsula
The African air mass is affecting regions far beyond Ourense, bringing widespread high temperatures to the country. Samuel Biener, a climatologist at Meteored, notes that the African air mass is pushing temperatures 8°C to 10°C higher than normal across the northern half of the peninsula, while southern areas approach 40°C.
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