The contrast is disturbing: in full heat wave, with thermometers soaring above 35 ° C, much of Catalonia dawns under a grayish sky, almost wintry. It is not the usual humid phenomenon, but a more disturbing reality: it is the smoke from the west of the Peninsula that slowly spreads over Catalonia.
The result is a dense haze that, combined with the humidity, generates fog and artificial cloudiness that dims the sunlight. In some coastal and pre-coastal regions there has been a strange sensation: suffocating heat without sunshine, stuffy air and even the smell of smoke in some areas.
Experts point out that the suspended particles, ashes and microparticles released by the fire act as condensation nuclei in the atmosphere, favoring the formation of low clouds and fog. This phenomenon, far from bringing respite, accentuates the sensation of heat, because the hot air is trapped close to the ground.
This layer of smoke is carried by the winds at altitude, which carry the ashes from Portugal or Galicia in a northerly direction, towards the United Kingdom, and then divert them towards France, Catalonia and the Balearic Islands.
The episode is reminiscent of previous heat waves, when Saharan dust arrivals dyed the sky orange. In fact, experts indicate that the smoke adds to a certain concentration of Saharan dust in suspension, which increases the haze in the Catalan skies.
Meanwhile, Civil Protection recommends avoiding outdoor activities in the central hours of the day, hydrate frequently and exercise extreme caution when traveling: road visibility is being reduced by fog and haze in several sections.
Now, with the heat wave in its final stretch, it remains to be seen how this fog survives the drop in temperatures.