Just around the corner from a warm spell, but showers will return before the weekend

BarcelonaYesterday, Tuesday, was Saint Martin's Day, and as is tradition, we'll have the typical Indian summer of this time of year. Starting today, temperatures will rise significantly, both the minimums and maximums. In fact, although we should bundle up again this morning, the cold is more moderate, and there are no more frosts except in some valleys of the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees. We'll have a warm peak with above-average temperatures, and many highs of 18 to 24 °C. There will be a temperature contrast between the morning chill and the mildness at midday. All of this will be due to an Atlantic low-pressure system that will push warm winds carrying dust from North Africa towards our country. The calm will continue, although there will be some minor changes in the sky. All this while we wait for an Atlantic front to cross us on Friday, bringing showers back.

Despite the rise in temperatures, the temperature inversion has occurred again today, with significantly colder conditions at lower elevations than at higher elevations. For example, in the Cerdanya region, a minimum temperature of -3°C was recorded today in Das (1,100 m elevation), much lower than the 3°C recorded at Tosa de Alp (2,400 m elevation). Also noteworthy today is the minimum temperature of -1°C in Guixers-Valls, in the Solsonès region (800 m elevation), compared to 8°C at the Queralt Sanctuary, in the Berguedà region (2,500 m elevation). This situation is also being observed outside the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees, where a minimum temperature of 10°C was recorded today in Montserrat, compared to 2°C in Sant Salvador de Guardiola, in the Bages region.

Wednesday: temperatures up

Temperatures will rise today, both minimums and maximums. You'll need a jacket early in the morning, but the cold is more moderate, and there's no frost outside of some valleys in the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees. Midday will be generally quite mild, with many highs between 17 and 24 °C. All this under calm skies and plenty of sunshine, as well as morning fog in plains and inland valleys. Once again, bands of clouds will continue to drift across the sky, creating colorful sunrises and sunsets. The new development will be more low cloud cover along the coast and pre-coastal areas of Tarragona and in the southern parts of the Barcelona and Ponent regions, especially during the morning. Minor variations in another calm day with no rain expected anywhere.

Weather change before the weekend

On Thursday, temperatures could rise a few degrees, with many highs reaching or exceeding 20°C. The highest temperatures will be in the west and surrounding areas, where they could reach or even exceed 25°C locally. The weather will remain calm, although low cloud cover will increase along the coast and pre-coastal areas, with a chance of showers in northern Empordà and around Els Ports. Dust from North Africa will be more prevalent in the air.

All eyes are on an Atlantic front arriving on Friday that will reignite the unsettled weather. Showers will reappear in some areas, especially in the northern and western parts of the country, and will initially be accompanied by mud. There is still some uncertainty about the extent of the precipitation. Temperatures will begin to drop inland and in the Pyrenees, and the weekend is expected to be less warm and with weather that won't completely clear up.