Bright morning and a sudden change in the weather in the afternoon
A pocket of cold air will bring showers and some snow to the Pyrenees between Sunday afternoon and evening.
BarcelonaThe first weekend of spring has been radiant and windy. Temperatures have remained relatively mild, generally ranging between 17°C and 20°C this Saturday. This morning, we again experienced a marked temperature contrast between the cold and frosty mornings and the more pronounced mildness at midday. In fact, some weather stations in the Pyrenees recorded a temperature swing of almost 20°C between day and night (in Pont de Suert, with a high of 17°C and a low of -3°C).
Today, after a pleasant spring morning, we will experience a more unsettled afternoon. The approach of a small pocket of cold air will bring renewed instability, and from midday onwards, some showers are expected in the northeast and the Pyrenees, which will spread throughout the night and evening. Locally, these could develop into thunderstorms. It will also snow in the Pyrenees, especially in regions like Ripollès, with strong northerly winds at higher elevations. However, the morning and midday will be pleasant and the weather will remain calm. The change in the weather will occur between the afternoon and evening and will continue into the early hours of Monday.
Sunday: waiting for a change in the weather
For much of the day, calm conditions will prevail, with plenty of sunshine across most areas. However, towards the afternoon, a pocket of cold air will bring cloud cover to the Pyrenees and the northeast, and the first showers will appear in these regions. As the day progresses, these showers will spread, and by the end of the day, they could reach the northern half of the Barcelona region. Isolated thunderstorms with hail are also possible.
During the early hours of Monday and until mid-morning, showers are expected in some areas of Girona and Barcelona, and precipitation is forecast for the Pyrenees, especially on the northern slopes. The snow level will descend from the initial 1,600 meters to 1,200 meters, or locally lower overnight. Up to 10 cm of new snow could accumulate in the higher elevations of Ripollès, accompanied by strong northerly winds. Some isolated showers are also possible along other coastal areas until midday. Temperatures will rise slightly today and be milder at midday (between 17°C and 20°C), but will begin to fall in the Pyrenees, with a significant drop in temperature during periods of showers in the afternoon and evening.
Weather changing next week
Next week looks set to be a mixed bag. On Monday, northerly winds will blow in the far reaches of the region, bringing a drop in temperatures, but the rain will clear by midday, with only a few lingering showers expected in the far northeast. Between Tuesday and Wednesday, temperatures will rise sharply, leading to pleasant and enjoyable days under the influence of a high-pressure system. However, a sudden change in the weather is possible on Thursday afternoon and Friday, bringing colder temperatures and snow to the Pyrenees, along with a significant drop in the snow level, with snowfall down to 1,000 meters, or even slightly lower. We'll transition from spring to winter, with the cold being most noticeable in the inland areas and the Pyrenees, where the wind could blow strongly at higher elevations. This is still an uncertain situation that we will need to clarify as we go along.
The start of spring, therefore, will bring us days of everything, with calm and pleasant weather, but also sudden changes in the weather and cold spells, as is typical of this season.