Short-sleeved weekend, but afternoon thunder returns

BarcelonaWe are starting a weekend that will be marked by heat more typical of late spring than mid-April, with highs around 30 °C between Poniente and the Ebro interior. In fact, this figure was already reached locally yesterday in these areas. Temperatures will be above the usual average for this time of year, but changes in the weather are coming. The presence of a bit of cold air at altitude will cause daytime clouds to grow more energetically in mountainous areas, and afternoon showers and thunderstorms will increase. They will fall today in parts of the Pyrenees, Pre-Pyrenees, and the Els Ports area, and from Sunday onwards they will increase in these areas and nearby zones. A typically spring situation of contrasts that will continue next week.

Saturday: heat and first afternoon showers

Today temperatures will rise more on this first day of the weekend, both minimums and maximums. At midday the atmosphere will be quite warm, with many maximums of 24 °C to 28 °C in the pre-coastal area and inland. But towards the west and in the Ebro basin, 30 °C can be reached. On the other hand, at sea level, the mercury will continue to be more restrained by the influence of a still quite cool sea, with values around 22 ºC.

All this with sun in the morning, with some morning fogs or low clouds that will dissipate, and the passage of decorative bands of high, thin clouds. But instability will increase, and afternoon cloudiness will grow with gusto in mountainous areas. Therefore, showers or some storms are expected in parts of the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees – especially the western part – and they are not ruled out in the area of Els Ports, as well as in the interior between Castellón and Valencia.

Sunday: more thunder

Instability will increase more tomorrow, with afternoon showers and thunderstorms gaining ground in the Pyrenees, Pre-Pyrenees, and the Ports area, locally with hail. Even some weaker and localized showers cannot be ruled out in Poniente and Central Catalonia. Outside these areas, the meteorological situation will continue to be marked by calm, although bands of clouds from the cloudiness of the mountain areas will arrive throughout the afternoon.

Temperatures will remain similar or even add a degree more, with marked heat and little morning cold. There will also be some fog or low clouds early on.

Few changes next week

Monday and Tuesday will see afternoon showers and thunderstorms repeated in mountainous and inland areas, and this afternoon instability will persist throughout the week. It is not ruled out that some showers may also reach the coast by mid-week. Temperatures will fluctuate, with a decrease where it rains. However, values will remain above the usual average for this time of year.