A radical change in the weather is on the horizon: a new storm of rain, snow, and wind is coming.
The episode will begin this weekend and will run into next week.
Barcelona2026 has started strong in terms of weather, and the coming days will be no exception. After a few calm and pleasant days, the situation will become quite complicated again towards the end of the week. The arrival of a mass of cold air of polar origin associated with an Atlantic low-pressure system and the formation of a new low-pressure system in our Mediterranean region will cause significant instability starting on Friday. We can expect gray and rainy days, and this episode could last until Tuesday. The weather maps even suggest a sudden increase in wind speed or a herring storm at the beginning of next week. This storm could bring significant amounts of rain to some areas, another significant snowfall in the mid and high elevations of the Pyrenees, strong winds, and rough seas. Meteocat has already issued a weather warning for Sunday through Tuesday due to accumulations of more than 100 liters per square meter in just 24 hours along the coast, pre-coastal areas, and the eastern half of the country, as well as for rough seas, as announced on social media by the agency's director, Sarai Sarroca.
The reservoirs in the internal basins are at 86%This is largely due to the abundant rainfall during the Christmas holidays. Therefore, it will be a case of adding insult to injury, and this Thursday several reservoirs in the inland basins will begin releasing water, as announced by the Catalan Water Agency (ACA). The measures affect the Ter system and the Foix and Darnius-Boadella reservoirs. The Ter reservoirs (Sau and Susqueda) are at 90% capacity and have increased their outflow from 3 m³/s to 15; the Foix reservoir is at 82% and is now releasing 300 liters per second, instead of 85 as before; and the Darnius-Boadella reservoir (85%) has increased its outflow from 0.3 m³/s to 2. The ACA will monitor the evolution of river flows and reservoir levels during this period of rainfall.
Furthermore, the Pyrenees are heavily snow-covered, which will mean significantly more water during the thaw. In just one year, we've gone from one extreme to the other: from extreme drought to high water availability.
First changes on Friday
The first changes will arrive on Friday. The passage of a weak cold front will bring increased cloud cover everywhere, with partly cloudy to overcast skies. The first light and scattered showers will fall, especially on the southern slopes of the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees – particularly in Lleida – with a snow level between 1,400 and 1,200 meters. This will be a small amount of rain so far, with temperatures already dropping. No rain is expected in the rest of the country, although some light and fleeting showers or drizzle are possible.
Umbrella weekend
Various weather models indicate that Saturday will be a wet day across the country, with a rain front driven by the arrival of cold air aloft and the influx of moisture-laden sea breezes from the Mediterranean. The rain will move inland from the sea, starting in the south and west and spreading throughout the country as the day progresses. The heaviest rainfall is expected from mid-morning to midday. It will be a busy day, with heavy snowfall in the Pyrenees, especially on the southern slopes. The snow level will fluctuate between 1,300 and 1,500 meters. Therefore, unlike last weekend, the snowfall will occur at mid and high elevations, sparing most valleys. Rain is expected to continue on Sunday, although some maps indicate that several regions could experience a brief respite of a few hours, particularly in the south and west.
Over the weekend, rainfall accumulations of more than 50 liters per square meter are possible in coastal, pre-coastal, and northeastern areas, with more than 20 to 30 centimeters of new snow expected at higher elevations on the southern slopes of the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees. This will be accompanied by colder, more wintry conditions, rough seas, and strong winds along the coast and at higher elevations. Rain will also reach the Balearic Islands and, to a lesser extent, parts of the Valencian Community.
Possible lifting next week
Most weather maps indicate the formation of a Mediterranean low-pressure system that will bring strong, gregarious winds to Spain early next week. Everything will depend on the system's final position. Therefore, between Monday and Tuesday, rainfall could be widespread and heavy, especially along the coast, in the pre-coastal areas, and the rest of the Barcelona and Girona regions, where accumulations of more than 150 or 200 liters per square meter are possible in some areas. Weather models have reduced the duration of the storm compared to previous forecasts, so the final details are still being determined.
This storm will be accompanied by strong easterly and northeasterly winds, with very rough seas along the entire coast. Furthermore, significant snowfall is expected again at mid and high elevations on the southern slopes of the Pyrenees, especially in the eastern area, with accumulations that, according to current maps, could easily exceed half a meter of new snow in the highest areas of Ripollès, Cerdanya, Capcir, Conflent, and the surrounding region. Very adverse conditions are expected in the high mountains these days due to the snowfall and wind, but also along the coast due to the heavy swell, which could generate waves of more than 4 or 6 meters in height. Rain and rough seas will also reach the Valencian Community and especially the Balearic Islands. This situation is still subject to change and we must continue to monitor it closely.
