Locally heavy downpours this Thursday: first effects of the DANA 'Alice'
Instability will increase, and the heaviest rains are expected in the south of the Valencian Community.
BarcelonaThe change in weather we announced a few days ago is finally here. After a calm and warm Wednesday that left highs of almost 30°C inland, the day ended with an increase in cloud cover. And this Thursday will bring the DANA Alice in our Mediterranean area, the first to be baptized with her own name. This instability will be exacerbated by the arrival of maritime winds laden with moisture. In Catalonia, there will be irregular showers and storms on Thursday, especially in coastal, pre-coastal, and central Catalonia areas. However, the storm will particularly affect southern Valencia, where rainfall will be increasingly persistent and abundant, with some downpours. Rain will also reach the Balearic Islands, and the DANA (Dana) will continue until the weekend, although much of Catalonia will be spared the storm's impact.
Thursday: change in weather
Over the next few hours, a cold wave will arrive from the Atlantic, creating a low-level depression (DANA) in our Mediterranean region. It will be a busy day, with a risk of very irregular but locally strong showers and thunderstorms in Catalonia. In the morning, they will concentrate in coastal and pre-coastal areas of Barcelona and Tarragona, and in the afternoon, they will spread to other areas of central Catalonia, the eastern Pyrenees, and the Pre-Pyrenees.
Meteocat has activated a yellow alert for heavy rain in several regions. However, in the rest of the Catalan regions, it will be unlikely to rain, with variable skies.
Pay attention to the Valencian region, as the rains will increase. Irregular showers will fall during the night and early morning, and during the day, the rainfall will become increasingly persistent and abundant, especially between Valencia and Alicante, especially around Cabo de la Nau, with some downpours. Heavy rain will also fall locally in the Pitiusas and eastern Mallorca. Aemet has activated numerous orange and yellow alerts.
The offshore wind will generally strengthen, although the north wind will dominate in the Empordà region. This will lead to generally falling temperatures, with mild to slightly cool conditions in the middle of the day. Many highs will hover between 20°C and 25°C.
Pending the evolution of the DANA
On Friday, the all-coast winds will strengthen, and the maritime situation will be very complicated. This wind will sweep away all precipitation in Catalonia, and apart from the occasional shower on the Ebro, no rain is expected. However, it will continue to rain heavily in the Valencian Community, southern Valencia, and Alicante, as well as in other areas of the southeastern peninsula.
With some uncertainty, it could rain heavily on Saturday throughout the Valencian Community, the Balearic Islands, and the Ebro. During the entire episode, local rainfall could exceed 200 l/m² in the southern Valencian Community. And perhaps on Sunday, sprinkles could also reach the rest of the Catalan coast and pre-coastal area. The situation will need to be monitored and updated, as a slight movement of the storm could change the forecast.