Christmas with coats and umbrellas: rain and snow return with a midwinter atmosphere

BarcelonaThe brief calm on Wednesday will not last. During Christmas night and early morning, scattered showers will reappear in several regions, and Christmas Day will be gray, cold, and bring more rain and snow. A strong easterly wind will begin and continue through Boxing Day. Rainfall will be significant in the northeast, while the eastern Pyrenees will experience another substantial and heavy snowfall. The snow level will fluctuate considerably depending on the area, and will be particularly low in the west and the southern interior. A strong easterly sea breeze will be significant along the Costa Brava. We will be under the influence of a low-pressure system and a blockage of cold air that will keep the weather unsettled until Saturday, with calmer conditions afterward.

Christmas: busy times

Rain will return to the northeast and the coast from the early hours of the morning, increasing throughout the afternoon and evening. Rain is possible at any time of day in virtually any location, especially in the Girona and Barcelona regions. The heaviest rainfall is expected in these areas from the afternoon onwards, while the south and western parts of Catalonia will see little rain. Rainfall totals will be very heavy in the northeast throughout this period, prompting Meteocat to issue warnings for accumulations exceeding 100 l/m² in this area on both Christmas Day and Boxing Day (Sant Esteve). Civil Protection has also 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 western Pre-Pyrenees, the Tarragona pre-coastal area, and the Central Plateau, the snow level will fluctuate between 500 and 800 meters throughout the day, locally lower. In these areas, snowfall is possible in unusual locations, creating a white Christmas in some towns, something not seen in Spain for quite some time. Meteocat has issued alerts for snow accumulations of more than 5 centimeters above 600 meters in several districts within these areas.

Outside these areas, the snow level will fluctuate between 1,200 and 1,400 meters this afternoon. We're also keeping a close eye on 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 spectacular start to the season, something we haven't 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 part of the storm 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 period, rainfall could exceed 100 or 150 liters per square meter in these areas. Some showers are expected in the Balearic Islands, and calmer weather in the Valencian Community. Significant snowfall is expected in the higher elevations of the eastern Pyrenees, reaching 1,500 to 1,600 meters. During this period, more than half a meter or a meter of new snow could accumulate. The snow level will drop sharply again in the morning in the western Pyrenees and in the southern and western interior due to the influx of colder air, settling between 600 and 800 meters, and rising considerably throughout the day. Overall, temperatures will rise slightly.

Rain is still possible on Saturday, but the situation will gradually improve, and Sunday will be mostly sunny. The rain will move towards the Valencian Community and the Balearic Islands, as the low-pressure system moves south across the peninsula and north across Morocco. There is still some uncertainty surrounding this, so the situation will need to be monitored and updated.