Peak temperatures tomorrow, Wednesday, but on the verge of another weather change

BarcelonaCalm and sunshine returned this Tuesday, with more pleasant conditions at midday and temperatures reaching up to 22°C in the interior of the Ebro Valley. This Wednesday, temperatures will even peak, with mild weather and highs above 20°C in several areas. However, a cold front will begin to arrive in the afternoon, bringing back the strong mistral and tramontana winds to the west, south, and Empordà regions, along with showers on the northern slopes of the Pyrenees. On Thursday, the wind will be strong in the extremes, and temperatures and the snow level will plummet, but no precipitation is expected outside the Pyrenees. Friday and Saturday will bring a respite, but on Sunday, snow will return to the Pyrenees and wind will pick up in many areas, bringing colder temperatures. This highly changeable, typically spring-like weather is the result of an anticyclone moving between the Azores and the British Isles, which will push colder fronts and air masses into the region.

Wednesday: changes starting in the afternoon

Wednesday morning will be very calm again, with generally bright sunshine and only a few scattered wisps of thin clouds, as well as some morning fog or low clouds. But from midday onwards and throughout the afternoon, the approaching front will revive the mistral and tramontana winds in the Ponent region, much of the Tarragona area, and initially, the northern part of the Alt Empordà. By evening, these winds will spread across the entire Costa Brava and the Pyrenees peaks. Meteocat has issued strong wind warnings for several districts in these areas for both Wednesday and Thursday, with gusts that could exceed 70 or 90 km/h, and even locally reach 100 km/h.

During the afternoon and evening, the first showers will arrive on the northern slopes of the Pyrenees. The snow level will start at around 1,400 meters, but will drop to just 800 meters overnight. Cloud cover will also increase in the rest of the Pyrenees and the northeast, but most areas will enjoy sunshine throughout the day. Temperatures will reach a temporary peak, with mild to warm conditions at midday. Highs will range between 17 and 23 degrees Celsius, higher further south.

Spring is backing away

The passage of the cold front will bring strong winds on Thursday to the Empordà region, the south, the Ponent region, and the Pyrenees peaks, where blizzard conditions and freezing temperatures are expected. Temperatures will drop significantly, and we will experience a return to winter weather, especially in the northern half of the country. Light to moderate snowfall is expected on the northern slopes of the Pyrenees, and some isolated showers are possible between Barcelona and Girona.

Friday and Saturday will be more pleasant days with a slight rise in temperatures, which will remain relatively mild and somewhat below the average for this time of year. Current weather maps indicate that this Sunday, Palm Sunday, could be marked by a new cold front of polar origin, bringing significant snowfall to the entire Pyrenees, along with colder temperatures and strong winds in many areas. This is a situation we will need to monitor closely and confirm.