Christmas with coats and umbrellas: rain and snow return, bringing back the atmosphere of midwinter.

BarcelonaYesterday's brief calm will not continue, and today, Christmas Day, will be gray, cold, and bring more rain and snow. A sudden updraft is beginning, which will continue through Boxing Day. Significant rainfall is expected in the northeast, while the eastern Pyrenees will experience another substantial and heavy snowfall. The snow level will vary considerably depending on the area, being lower in the west and the southern interior. A strong easterly sea breeze will be particularly noticeable along the Costa Brava. We will be under the influence of a low-pressure system and a blockage of cold air, which will keep the weather unsettled until Saturday, with calmer conditions expected afterward.

Christmas: rain, rough seas and snow at low elevations

Rain has been returning to the northeast and the coast since early this morning and will continue throughout the afternoon and evening. By early this morning, a total of 17 liters per square meter had been recorded.² In Cunit, 8 in El Vendrell, and 4 in Vilafranca del Penedès. Snow has accumulated between 5 and 10 cm in the last 24 hours (5 cm in the Cadí mountain range at 2,100 m, bringing the total to around 46 cm, and 7 cm in the Port del Comte mountain range at 2,290 m, for a total of 36 cm). Rain is possible at any time of day in practically any location, especially in the Girona and Barcelona regions. The heaviest rainfall is expected in these areas starting in the afternoon, while the south and west will see little rain. Rainfall will be very heavy in the northeast throughout this event, so Meteocat has issued warnings for accumulations of more than 100 l/m² in this area both today and on Sant Esteve (St. Stephen's Day), and Civil Protection has activated the Inuncat flood plan.

As for the snow, the snow level will fluctuate considerably. In the morning, most areas will have a snow level between 900 and 1,200 meters. However, in the valleys of the Pyrenees and the western Pre-Pyrenees, in the Tarragona coastal region, and on the Central Plateau, the snow level will fluctuate between 500 and 800 meters throughout the day, and locally lower. In these areas, snowfall is expected in unusual locations, resulting in a white Christmas in some towns, something that hasn't happened in our country for quite some time. In fact, by mid-morning, it was already snowing heavily in the Segarra and Priorat regions.

Meteocat has activated alerts for snow thicknesses of more than 5 centimeters above 600 m in several regions of these areas.

Outside these areas, the snow level will fluctuate between 1,200 and 1,400 meters this afternoon. We will be closely monitoring the new snowfall expected in the coming days at mid and high elevations in the eastern Pyrenees. More than half a meter or even a meter of new snow could accumulate during this period, making for a truly remarkable start to the ski season, unlike anything we've seen in years.

All with a cold, midwinter feel. Temperatures will be low, with many highs between 7 and 12 °C, significantly lower in mountainous areas and below freezing all day at higher elevations. The rough seas will intensify along the entire coast, especially the Costa Brava, where waves exceeding 4 to 6 meters in height are expected until Saint Stephen's Day. Meteocat has also issued a warning for rough seas along the northeast coast, with a red alert (the highest level) in place for Saint Stephen's Day on the Costa Brava.

San Esteban with more rain and snow

From Christmas Eve and throughout Boxing Day, the heaviest rainfall is expected. Rain is possible anywhere, but especially in the northeast and northern Catalonia – particularly in Roussillon – where total rainfall will be very heavy. Over the course of this event, rainfall could exceed 100 to 150 liters per square meter in these areas. Some showers are expected in the Balearic Islands, while the Valencian Community will experience calmer weather. Significant snowfall is expected in the higher elevations of the eastern Pyrenees, above 1,500 to 1,600 meters. In the eastern Pyrenees, for example, accumulations of up to 50 cm are possible in 24 hours, and even greater amounts are possible at higher elevations. Between 50 and 100 cm of new snow will accumulate in the Ter-Freser area, the Pre-Pyrenees, and on the northern slopes of the Cadí-Moixeró range. The avalanche risk will increase, and extreme caution is advised for anyone planning winter mountaineering. Today, the degree of danger The snow level is marked (3) throughout the Pyrenees, and with the snowfall, it is forecast to rise to 4 (heavy) in uncontrolled areas, with problems related to fresh snow and wind slabs. The snow level will plummet again in the morning in the western Pyrenees and in the southern and western interior due to increased cold air, between 600 and 800 meters, and will rise significantly throughout the day. Overall temperatures will rise slightly.

Rain is still possible on Saturday, but conditions will improve, and Sunday will be mostly sunny. The rain will shift towards the Valencian Community and the Balearic Islands as the storm moves south across the peninsula and north through Morocco. However, there is still some uncertainty; therefore, the situation will need to be monitored and updated.