Short-sleeved weekend, but afternoon thunderstorms return

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 Ponent and the Ebro interior. In fact, this Friday this figure has already been locally reached in these areas. Temperatures will be above the usual average for this time of year, but changes in the weather are coming. The arrival of a bit of cold air at altitude will make the daytime clouds grow with more energy in mountainous areas, and afternoon showers and thunderstorms will increase. They will fall today in parts of the Pyrenees, Pre-Pyrenees, and the 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

Saturday early morning it will be a little cold overall and temperatures will rise more this first day of the weekend, both minimum and maximum. In the middle of the day the atmosphere will be quite warm, with many maximums of 24 °C to 28 °C on the pre-coast and inland. But towards Ponent and the Ebro inland, 30 °C can be reached. On the other hand, by the sea the mercury will continue to be more restrained by the influence of a still quite cool sea.

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 cloudbursts will grow with gusto in mountainous areas. Therefore, showers or some thunderstorms are expected in parts of the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees –especially the western part– and they are not ruled out in the Ports area, as well as in the interior between Castelló and Valencia.

Sunday: more thunderstorms

Instability will increase further on Sunday, 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 Ponent and Central Catalonia. Outside these areas, the meteorological situation will continue to be marked by calm, although bands of clouds from the cloudbursts in the mountain areas will arrive throughout the afternoon.

Temperatures will remain similar or even increase by a degree, with marked heat and little morning cold. There will also be some fog or low clouds in the early hours.

Few changes next week

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