A rainy weekend: four days of rain, snow, wind and rough seas are set to begin
The Inuncat and Neucat plans are on alert, awaiting a new lifting of restrictions at the beginning of the week.
BarcelonaThe weather change predicted days ago is finally here. Today, the mixing of a mass of cold air of polar origin with the arrival of humid chaloc winds will bring widespread rain, as well as significant snowfall in the mid and high elevations of the southern Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees. Rain will continue in many areas on Sunday, with wintry conditions and rough seas throughout the weekend. As of noon, we have already seen accumulations of almost 70 liters per square meter.2 in the south and in the western Pyrenees:
Furthermore, a Mediterranean storm will form, bringing a strong easterly to northeasterly wind on Monday and Tuesday, with heavy rain, significant snowfall in the eastern Pyrenees, rough seas, and strong winds. The Inuncat emergency plan is currently in its pre-alert phase, and Meteocat has issued numerous alerts for heavy rain, accumulations exceeding 100 l/m² in 24 hours, snow, and high waves.
Saturday: Umbrella day
The weekend is off to a busy start. Rain has been affecting the Lleida and Tarragona regions, as well as the Pyrenees, since early this morning. As the day progresses, the precipitation will become more widespread, with rain falling across the country. Locally, some downpours may be intense and accompanied by thunderstorms in coastal areas, pre-coastal regions, and the southern half of the country. By 8:00 AM, we had already accumulated 47 liters per square meter.2 in Constantine, 37 l/m2 in Tarragona, 18 l/m2 in Tivissa, 17 l/m2 in Lleida and Mollerussa and 12 l/m2 in El Pont de Suert. Meteocat warnings for accumulation of up to 100 l/m2 Rain is expected to affect several regions, with the highest probability in Camp de Tarragona, the southern pre-coastal area, Solsonès, Berguedà, Ripollès, Pallars Jussà, and Alta Ribagorça. From midday onwards, rain will fall along the coast, in the central pre-coastal area, and in Central Catalonia, and will begin to intensify on the southern slopes of the Pyrenees. During the afternoon, the most intense showers will fall in the northeast.
Civil Protection maintains the Inuncat and Neucat plans on alert due to the heavy rains and expected snowfalls.
If you're traveling to the mid- to high-altitude areas of the Pyrenees, be sure your vehicle is well-equipped. Widespread snowfall is expected, particularly affecting the southern slopes and the higher elevations of the Pre-Pyrenees. These areas could see accumulations of 20 to 50 cm of new snow throughout the weekend, with the heaviest snowfall in the eastern sector. The snow level will fluctuate between 1,400 and 1,600 m, although it may drop to around 1,000 or 1,200 m in the western sector. Therefore, unlike recent snowfalls, this time the snow will not be concentrated in the valley bottoms, but rather at slightly higher elevations.
The northeasterly wind will strengthen and be felt especially along the coast and in the higher elevations of the Pyrenees, making for rougher seas. Rain is also expected throughout the day in the Balearic Islands and parts of Castellón province, while the rest of the Valencian Community will see clearer skies with only a few scattered, light showers. Daytime conditions will be more wintry, with highs of 8 to 13 °C and high humidity. Conversely, lows will rise due to cloud cover, and the cold will be moderate in the early morning.
Sunday: the unsettled weather will continue
The unsettled weather will continue on Sunday. It will be another gray and rainy day across much of the country. However, there may be some breaks in the rain towards the south and west, while it will continue to rain in the Girona and Barcelona regions, as well as parts of the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees. Snowfall will also continue in the Pyrenees, especially in the eastern Pyrenees, with the snow level remaining around 1,500 or 1,400 meters. Another day for umbrellas, with winds shifting to the east along the northeast coast, rough seas, and temperatures similar to Saturday's. It will be moderately cold at night and in the early morning, with wintry conditions at midday, and many highs again ranging between 8 and 13 °C, lower in mountainous areas. Lighter and more scattered showers are also expected in Castellón and the Balearic Islands.
East and northeasterly storms expected next week
The formation of a Mediterranean low-pressure system will bring a storm with strong easterly winds at the beginning of next week. Heavy rain is expected across the region on Monday and Tuesday, particularly in the northeast and coastal and pre-coastal areas. Current weather maps indicate that these areas could see accumulations of over 100 or 200 liters per square meter in some cases. In anticipation of this, the Sau-Susqueda, Foix, and Darnius Boadella reservoirs are continuing to release water to accommodate the expected rainfall, as the internal basins are currently at 86% capacity, with some reservoirs nearing full capacity. Significant snowfall is also expected in the mid and high elevations of the eastern Pyrenees with this new storm. In regions like Ripollès, Vallespir, Conflent, and Alta Cerdanya, local accumulations of 1.5 meters or more of new snow are possible between Saturday and Tuesday. On Tuesday, the heaviest rainfall could shift between the Ebro River basin and the Valencian Community, although this information is still unclear at the moment. A severe storm with strong winds and rough seas is expected along the entire Catalan coast, centered on the Costa Brava. Waves will exceed 4 to 6 meters in height. This situation should be monitored very closely.