Galicia declares red alert as temperatures set to surpass 35°C in Pontevedra
The Galician regional government has activated its highest heat alert for Friday and Saturday, with temperatures expected to top 35 degrees Celsius across inland Pontevedra and trigger a tropical night.
Red alert activated
The Galician regional government (Xunta) has activated the highest level of its heat-health protocol, alert level 3 (red), covering the inland zone of Pontevedra province. The alert is in effect for Friday 12 June and Saturday 13 June. According to MeteoGalicia, maximum temperatures are expected to surpass 35 degrees Celsius in many parts of the affected area. Sixteen municipalities are included: Agolada, O Campo Lameiro, A Caniza, Cerdedo Cotobade, Covelo, Cuntis, Dozón, A Estrada, Forcarei, Fornelos de Montes, Lalín, A Lama, Moraña, Rodeiro, Silleda and Vila de Cruces. Additionally, an orange-level (2) warning has been issued for the northwest and interior zones of neighbouring A Coruña province.
What's driving the heat
A high-pressure system stationed to the north of the Iberian Peninsula since Thursday is steering a mass of very warm North African air into the region. Combined with clear, open skies from the anticyclone, this is causing a notable temperature rise. The most intense heat is forecast for Friday and Saturday.
Tropical night and weekend outlook
While Friday night will still see relatively mild minima, the early hours of Saturday are expected to bring a "tropical night" in some spots, meaning temperatures will not fall below 20 degrees. That means Saturday will feature elevated temperatures throughout the whole 24-hour period — both day and night. MeteoGalicia predicts that the strong heat will then begin to slowly recede during the day on Sunday.
- High pressure north of Iberia brings North African air mass
- Red alert active; max temps >35°C; outdoor sports suspended
- Tropical night (min >20°C); max temps again >35°C
- Intense heat begins to recede
Impact on sports and daily life
In response to the alert, the Xunta's sports department has ordered the suspension of all outdoor federated sporting activity and the Xogade youth sports programme for Friday in the affected interior Pontevedra municipalities. Schedules and detailed affected locations are available on the Deporte Galego website. No broader public health measures beyond the alert were announced, but the regional heat plan includes monitoring and advice to the public.
