Experts forecast a strong dome of warm air over Spain in the coming days, keeping the temperature gradually rising after an unusually chilly start to May.

Warm air mass heats up late spring conditions

Temperatures across many parts of the country will now reach full-on summer levels. This shift follows a cold snap with readings 6 to 10 degrees below average and mountain snow in northern ranges. A persistent high-pressure ridge blowing up from northwest Africa now covers the Iberian Peninsula and is spreading northeast.

How this heat dome develops

High pressure acts like a lid trapping descending warm air and compressing it near the ground. This pattern pushes subtropical heat northward and builds over several days. Such domes occur more often in summer but bring more extreme conditions when stable.

Effects across key Spanish holiday destinations

Mallorca is experiencing notable rises, with daytime highs climbing steadily toward 30 degrees or more by late week. North Costa Blanca and South Costa Blanca see similar warming, with coastal areas feeling the build-up in humidity and heat, especially the Alicante area, which will see highs of 37ºC around Thursday.

Murcia records sharp increases as the warm air mass settles. Almeria faces potential peaks near 35º in inland spots while sea breezes moderate beach zones slightly. Costa del Sol prepares for intense warmth, especially inland from Malaga toward western stretches, where values may even approach 38ºC.

UK and Western Europe being brutalized by a “heat dome” fueled by dry African desert air, and “contorted” jet stream.

Climate change is the main culprit causing this nearly-unprecedented heat event, otherwise impossible without fossil fuels. pic.twitter.com/2LlFCoU2ER

— Ryan Maue (@RyanWeather) May 24, 2026

Week outlook for southern and eastern coasts

Maximum readings between 35ºC and 40ºC hit inland western Andalucia and Extremadura on Saturday and Sunday. Holiday regions in the east and south register 30ºC to 36ºC with some local patchy cloud.

Night-time temperatures stay warm and limit cooling in coastal zones. Vulnerable groups, including elderly residents and outdoor workers, face higher risks from prolonged heat.

Broader European spread

France is reporting 30 to 36 degrees in southwest areas today. Britain is looking forward to near 30ºC in parts over the weekend with tropical nights around 20ºC minimum. Central Europe and the Mediterranean basin warm markedly through early next week.

Spain maintains focus on this intense late-May heat as the high-pressure system matures. In short, we can look forward to a slightly muggier week ahead, with light breezes and some occasional cloud cover.

Most people sitting on a beach in the south of France probably never think about tsunamis.The Mediterranean simply does not feel dangerous in that way.

It feels calm and predictable, the kind of place people associate with holiday postcards, beach cafés and small boats drifting quietly near the shore.

That is partly why warnings from scientists keep catching attention whenever they resurface because the image most people have of the Mediterranean does not match the reality researchers are describing.

UNESCO has warned that there is effectively a 100 per cent probability of a tsunami of more than one metre hitting the Mediterranean within the next 30 years.

And while that does not mean a giant catastrophic wave is about to hit Europe tomorrow, scientists say many coastal communities still underestimate how exposed some parts of the region actually are.Especially along areas of southern France where certain tsunami scenarios could unfold frighteningly fast.

In some cases, researchers say waves could reach the coastline in under ten minutes.

That detail matters more than anything else because when reaction time becomes that short, traditional warning systems stop being enough on their own.

People often imagine tsunami alerts arriving hours in advance.

In the Mediterranean, it may not work like that.

The Mediterranean has already experienced destructive tsunamis before

Part of the problem is that many Europeans still associate tsunamis almost entirely with the Pacific.

Japan.

Indonesia.

Thailand.

Not Nice or Cannes.

But historically, the Mediterranean has experienced numerous tsunami events linked to underwater earthquakes, landslides and seismic activity.

Researchers studying the French Riviera coastline say historical records mention around twenty tsunami incidents affecting the area between the sixteenth century and the early 2000s.

Some produced waves exceeding two metres. One of the best known cases happened near Nice in 1979.

An underwater collapse linked to construction work near the airport triggered a tsunami that killed eight people and caused damage along parts of the Côte d’Azur including Nice, Cannes and Antibes.

Another event followed the 2003 earthquake in Boumerdès in Algeria.

Around an hour later, unusual sea movements and powerful currents were reported across parts of the French Mediterranean coast. Several marinas experienced sudden water level changes and damage linked to violent currents inside harbours.

There was also the earthquake in the Ligurian Sea in 1887, which historical accounts describe as causing the sea to suddenly retreat before waves flooded parts of the coast.

Scientists mention these examples constantly for one simple reason.

They want people to stop thinking of Mediterranean tsunamis as fantasy scenarios. Because they have already happened before.

Why scientists are especially worried about reaction times

One thing researchers repeat over and over is that Mediterranean tsunamis behave differently from the giant ocean crossing disasters people usually see in documentaries.

The Mediterranean is relatively enclosed. Distances are shorter. Which means waves can travel towards populated coastlines extremely quickly.

If the triggering event happens far enough away, emergency systems may still have time to send mobile alerts and warnings.

France already has a national tsunami warning system linked to UNESCO’s wider international monitoring network. But the real concern involves local tsunamis caused by underwater landslides or nearby earthquakes.

In those situations, waves may arrive before official alerts even reach people. That is why scientists increasingly focus on evacuation planning and public awareness rather than relying purely on warning technology. And many people still do not know the most basic natural warning signs.

For example, the sea suddenly pulling back unusually far from the shore.

Researchers say that abnormal retreat can happen shortly before a tsunami wave arrives, although not always. Strong unusual currents near ports and marinas can also signal danger.

The difficulty is that human beings naturally hesitate during unfamiliar situations.

People stop to film, watch and ask questions. They try to understand what they are seeing. And when timeframes are measured in minutes, hesitation becomes dangerous very quickly.

The French Riviera faces a particularly difficult challenge in summer

The situation becomes even more complicated on the Côte d’Azur during peak tourist season.

Researchers working on evacuation planning around Nice say tens of thousands of people can be present in vulnerable coastal areas depending on the time of year and time of day.

Beaches packed with tourists create obvious logistical problems if authorities suddenly need large numbers of people to move inland quickly.

That is why local researchers and emergency planners have spent years mapping evacuation routes, identifying refuge areas and studying how crowds might react in real conditions.

According to the studies, parts of the French Mediterranean coastline considered exposed include low lying coastal areas close to the sea and certain river mouth zones.

UNESCO has also been encouraging coastal territories, including Spain, to join its ‘Tsunami Ready‘ programme designed to improve preparedness through public information, evacuation planning and awareness campaigns.

Nice is among the areas working towards stronger preparation measures.

Scientists insist none of this is about creating panic.

The point is almost the opposite.

Preparation works best when people already know what to do before an emergency starts. Because when a coastline only has minutes to react, confusion becomes one of the biggest dangers of all, and that is exactly what researchers are trying to avoid.

Picking up snacks, drinks or basic groceries at midnight has become completely normal in Barcelona.

For years, small 24 hour supermarkets seemed to appear everywhere. Some stayed open all night in busy tourist areas while others quietly became part of everyday life for locals coming home late from work, bars or long shifts.

Now the city wants to slow things down.

Barcelona City Council has temporarily stopped granting new licences for 24 hour supermarkets and self service grocery shops across much of the city while officials work on new rules for the sector.

The suspension is already in force and will remain for at least a year.

And honestly, reactions have been exactly what you would expect in Barcelona right now.

Some residents are relieved, others are frustrated.

Because depending on where you live, these shops are either useful neighbourhood businesses or part of the reason certain areas never feel quiet anymore.

The move mainly affects smaller supermarkets and convenience stores under 300 square metres that until now were able to operate with very extended opening hours.

According to the council, the rapid growth of these businesses has increasingly created tensions in residential neighbourhoods, especially in areas heavily affected by tourism and nightlife.

Residents complained about noise, crowds and constant activity late at night

The issue for many neighbours was never really about people buying milk at 1am.

It was everything happening around the shops afterwards.

Groups standing outside drinking.People talking loudly under apartment windows.Constant movement in streets that used to calm down much earlier at night.

In some neighbourhoods, residents say the atmosphere changed completely over the last few years as more late night businesses opened nearby.

And because Barcelona is already dealing with huge debates around tourism pressure and quality of life, the frustration around 24 hour supermarkets slowly became part of a much bigger conversation.

The city says there are currently around 1,300 supermarkets and self service shops operating under this kind of model across Barcelona.

Officials argue the pause on new licences will give the council time to prepare a broader urban plan deciding where these businesses should be allowed and under what conditions.

The suspension also covers permits linked to opening or expanding these types of premises.

Not every district is affected in exactly the same way though.

Ciutat Vella and Sant Martí were excluded because both already have more recent regulations dealing with this type of commercial activity.

Barcelona has already been carrying out inspections on late night shops

At the same time, the council confirmed it will continue inspection campaigns targeting businesses operating around the clock.

And the figures released by the city suggest authorities have already been monitoring the situation very closely.

During the current municipal term, Barcelona carried out 14 multi inspection operations across different neighbourhoods.

More than 230 premises were inspected.

According to the council, authorities detected breaches involving hygiene regulations, urban planning rules and operating conditions.

The operations also led to dozens of temporary closures, hundreds of restoration orders and financial penalties.

City officials insist the objective is not to attack local commerce itself.

Instead, they say the aim is to stop certain residential areas becoming overwhelmed by a commercial model linked increasingly to late night activity and tourism pressure.

Still, not everybody agrees with the approach.

Some people feel Barcelona is gradually becoming too restrictive and too hostile towards businesses that simply respond to customer demand.

Others argue these shops provide practical services for workers, tourists and residents whose schedules do not fit neatly into traditional opening hours.

The debate says a lot about how Barcelona is changing

The argument around 24 hour supermarkets probably would not have attracted so much attention a few years ago.But Barcelona feels different lately.

Almost every discussion about the city eventually circles back to the same themes.

• Tourism.
• Housing pressure.
• Noise.
• Nightlife.

And what kind of city residents actually want Barcelona to become.

That is partly why something as ordinary as a late night convenience store suddenly turns into a political issue.

For some people, these shops represent convenience and modern city life. For others, they symbolise a city that feels increasingly overcrowded and exhausting during peak tourist periods.

And honestly, both sides probably have a point.

Most people enjoy having somewhere open late when they genuinely need it. Most people also want to sleep at night.

The challenge for Barcelona now is figuring out where the balance sits. Because the city clearly does not want late night supermarkets disappearing completely.

But it also does not seem willing to let them continue spreading everywhere without tighter control. And for now at least, anybody hoping to open a new 24 hour supermarket in Barcelona is going to have to wait.