A radical change in the weather is on the horizon: a new storm of rain, snow, and wind is coming.

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 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 at least Tuesday or Wednesday. The weather maps even suggest a slight improvement at the beginning of next week. This storm could bring significant amounts of rain, another substantial 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%Especially thanks to the abundant rainfall during the Christmas holidays. Therefore, it will be raining on already saturated ground, and if the forecasts are correct, it is possible that some reservoirs will become completely full and have to open their floodgates to absorb the new rainfall. In addition, the Pyrenees are heavily laden with snow, which will mean much more water as the thaw progresses. In one year we have gone from one extreme to the other: from extreme drought to high water availability.

First changes Friday

Thursday will still be calm, but 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 in the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees, with a snow level between 1,400 and 1,200 meters. Still little rain, with temperatures already starting to drop.

Umbrella weekend

Various weather models indicate that Saturday will be a wet day across the country. A rain front, along with the arrival of cold air, will cause precipitation to move inland from the sea, especially from midday onwards. It will be a turbulent day, with maritime winds, rough seas, and fresh snowfall throughout the Pyrenees, particularly 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, avoiding most valleys. More than 25 or 30 cm of fresh snow could accumulate at higher elevations. All this will be accompanied by colder, more wintry conditions, rough seas, and maritime winds. This situation could persist into part of Sunday, with rain also expected in the Balearic Islands and the Valencian Community.

Possible lifting next week

Most weather maps indicate the formation of a Mediterranean low-pressure system that will bring easterly winds to Spain early next week. Therefore, between Monday and Wednesday, rainfall will be widespread and heavy or very heavy, especially along the coast, inland areas, and the rest of the Barcelona and Girona regions, where accumulations of more than 150 or 200 liters per square meter are possible throughout the entire storm.

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 throughout the Pyrenees, especially in the eastern area, with accumulations that, according to current maps, could reach around one meter of new snow in the highest areas of Ripollès, Cerdanya, Capcir, Conflent, and Vallespir. Very adverse conditions are expected in the high mountains these days due to snow and wind, but also along the coast due to heavy swells, which could generate waves of 4 to 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.