Dew, strong winds, snow in the Pyrenees and colder temperatures to start the weekend

Calm prevailed this Friday after Thursday's heavy rains. However, the approach of a new cold front will bring increasing cloud cover to the west during the afternoon and evening. Between Friday night and Saturday morning, another round of showers is expected across the region, although they will be more scattered and lighter. Some isolated thunderstorms are possible, especially in the northeast, but nothing like the heavy downpours of Thursday. All of this will be accompanied by strong northerly winds in several areas, more snow in the Pyrenees, and a colder, more autumnal feel. In contrast, the weekend will end dramatically, with the return of calm and sunshine. Maximum temperatures will rise on Sunday, but will remain relatively mild.

Saturday: busy weather

Between Friday night and Saturday morning, a new front will cross the region, bringing a series of showers. These will move from west to east and will generally be light and scattered, although some isolated thunderstorms are possible, especially in the northeast. From midday onwards, the rain will move out to sea, but precipitation will continue on the northern slopes of the Pyrenees, with the snow level dropping from 2,000 meters to 1,600 meters. Up to 20 cm or more of new snow is possible at the highest elevations in this area. The afternoon will be partly cloudy to mostly cloudy in the rest of Catalonia, but dry.

But beware of the strong northerly winds, as they will be blowing in force. The mistral and tramontana winds will be felt across much of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and the Valencian Community, where rough seas are expected. The gales will be particularly strong, with gusts exceeding 100 km/h in the Ebro Valley, the Camp de Tarragona region, the Costa Brava, the Balearic Islands, and the Pyrenees peaks. Local blizzard conditions are possible at the highest elevations of the Pyrenees. Meteocat has issued a strong wind warning for some areas.

Caution is also advised in the Balearic Islands, as, in addition to strong winds, rain and heavy thunderstorms are expected throughout the day. Very adverse weather is forecast for the archipelago, especially Mallorca and Menorca. Aemet (the Spanish State Meteorological Agency) has issued yellow and orange warnings for heavy rain, rough seas, and strong winds in the Balearic Islands. Meanwhile, sunshine will prevail in much of the Valencian Community, but with a mistral wind.

All this with a clear drop in temperatures that will make it generally colder, accentuated in many cases by the wind. Many highs will be between 12 and 17 °C, lower in mountainous areas, with sub-zero temperatures all day at the higher elevations of the Pyrenees. A chill of late autumn.

Sunday: Calm returns

The unsettled weather will disappear abruptly on Sunday, and we can expect a day of sunshine and generally calm conditions. This radical change in the weather will make for a pleasant and enjoyable day. The wind will clearly decrease, weakening and concentrating in the Ebro Valley and the northern Empordà region. It will be colder early in the morning, so we should dress warmly, but the highs will rise, making it more comfortable in the middle of the day, with many temperatures reaching 15 to 20°C. This stable weather will continue into the beginning of next week, with increasing temperature inversions and morning fog.