The heat wave has pushed temperatures in Barcelona up to 32ºC and it is estimated that they won't be much lower this evening or indeed over night.
Although the heat wave is expected to be far worse inland and further south, with temperatures reaching a blistering 40ºC, health services in Catalunya have already begun undertaking measures to ensure residents stay hydrated until the the city cools. Around 9,000 Catalans, mostly the elderly and the sick, those considered to be most vulnerable to heat stroke and dehydration, have been advised over the phone to take in easy over the coming days. At Metropolitan we also care and have a few suggestions of our own on how to stay cool.
Beach-goers beware! Medusas (jellyfish) were reported drifting closer to Barcelona shores recently. Programmers and computer nerds have been hard at work trying to find a solution, in the form of a mobile app, before we find ourselves face-to-tentacles with a non-polyp phylum cnidaria and are stuck for ideas. The application is available for download for free and informs users about what jellyfish may be lurking nearby, how to identify one and what to do in case you get stung. However, we would advise against actually going into the water with your phone.
The Circuit Festival rages on this weekend, as does the Gandules Film Festival and outdoor pop-up cinema Brick Lane BCN. There are also a whole host of art exhibitions showing throughout the coming weeks if you prefer a quieter day in the city. Be sure to check out our Going Out section for further information.
The Summer in August blog will be back next week. Enjoy the weekend!