A brief respite today: rain and snow will return at Christmas and Boxing Day.

After several unsettled days, today we'll have a break from the rain and snow. It will be calmer and temperatures will rise, although the sky will remain partly cloudy to mostly cloudy. But around Christmas and Boxing Day, we'll see a surge that will bring more precipitation, with heavy amounts in the northeast and northern Catalonia, and significant snowfall in the mid and high elevations of the eastern Pyrenees. All of this will need to be monitored closely.

Today's respite comes after precipitation returned yesterday to many areas. Overall, it was light, but towards the Costa Brava, rainfall locally exceeded 15 or 20 liters per square meter. It also snowed in the Pyrenees, especially in the eastern Pyrenees, where nearly half a meter of new snow has accumulated in recent days. Yesterday morning, snow fell in some inland areas above 800 or 1,000 meters, creating winter scenes and nativity-themed landscapes.

Wednesday: temporary calm

After several days of rain and snow in many regions, the unsettled weather will finally give us a break this Wednesday. A dry day is expected with partly cloudy to variable skies and morning fog. It should be a pleasant day, with wind in the Ebro Valley and northern Empordà. The exception will be the coast of Valencia, around Cap de la Nau, and between Mallorca and Menorca, where some scattered showers are possible. Cloud cover will increase more generally from the afternoon and evening onwards, and light snow is expected again on the northern slopes of the Pyrenees, above 1,000 or 1,200 meters. Scattered showers will return during Christmas night and early morning, especially along the coast, inland areas, and in the north of the country. Temperatures will rise further this Wednesday, both minimums and especially maximums, with many values reaching 10 to 15 °C, lower in mountainous areas.

Christmas and Boxing Day of rain and snow

From Christmas onwards, the weather will become more complicated. We can expect a cloudy Christmas Day with rain in many areas. Only parts of western and southern Spain will remain relatively dry. Be aware of the snow level, as it may initially drop to around 500 meters in the central and western regions of the country, in areas such as Anoia, Segarra, and Conca de Barberà. In fact, there are alerts in place for snow accumulations of more than 5 centimeters above 600 meters.

In contrast, in the eastern half of the region, the snow level will hover around 1,000 meters in the morning, generally rising to 1,200 or 1,400 meters throughout the day. Snowfall will resume in the Pyrenees, especially in the eastern part. A cold and wintry Christmas Day is expected overall, with winds ranging from northeast to easterly, strengthening along the coast, and rough seas.

All eyes are on Boxing Day and Saturday, as we could see the peak of the easterly winds. According to current weather maps, heavy rain is expected across much of the Girona and Barcelona regions, less so elsewhere, and significant snowfall is anticipated throughout the eastern Pyrenees, where accumulations could again exceed half a meter of fresh snow at higher elevations. The snow level will be between 1,400 and 1,600 meters. The situation remains uncertain and we will need to narrow it down, as everything will depend on the final position of a low-pressure system and a pocket of cold air.

Heavy rain is also expected in the Balearic Islands, with some lighter showers in the Valencian Community. Caution is advised due to the strong easterly winds, which will generate waves of over 4 meters, especially along the Costa Brava. Temperatures will be higher, but the weather will feel cool. The weekend should end on a calmer note.