Friday of harsh winter: peak of Arctic cold, strong winds and snowfall in the Pyrenees

BarcelonaYesterday, the bulk of the very cold air mass from the Arctic began to arrive, and maximum temperatures will reach their lowest point today, when the most intense part of the cold snap hits us. In fact, at the 2,500-meter mark in the Pyrenees, we recorded temperatures of -13 to -15°C early this morning, which confirms the cold air reaching us at higher altitudes. We woke up to freezing temperatures everywhere; it's essential to bundle up before going outside. Last night, the snowfall intensified on the northern slopes of the Pyrenees and also appeared intermittently on the southern slopes. This snow will continue to fall today, especially in the Alt Pirineu and the Vall d'Aran.

Last night and into the evening, a few isolated snowflakes were seen between 500 and 700 meters in the pre-coastal area of Barcelona and in parts of the Pre-Pyrenees and inland areas, such as Moià, Solsona, the Sant Llorenç del Munt i el Obac Natural Park, and Montseny. These were isolated occurrences, and ultimately there were no snow showers at lower elevations on the Costa Brava, as precipitation was practically nonexistent. The weekend will be calmer. It will start with freezing temperatures on Saturday morning, but the weather will gradually recover.

Friday: very cold, windy and snowy in the Pyrenees

We woke up to very cold weather, especially in the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees, where temperatures reached as low as -5°C in the valleys and between -13 and -15°C at around 2,500 meters altitude. Frost was also present in many inland areas, but it wasn't widespread in the central and southern regions due to wind in several areas. The sun will dominate across most of the country this Friday. But don't let the clear skies fool you, as the cold will be intense everywhere. It's a day of the heart of winter, with many highs between 6 and 12°C, significantly lower in mountainous areas. This Friday will see the arrival of the coldest air mass of the Arctic outbreak, with temperatures reaching as low as -35°C at around 5,500 meters altitude. These are temperatures we haven't even seen in some of the last few winters.

Be aware of the situation on the northern slopes of the Pyrenees, as snowfall will intensify and continue throughout the day at all elevations. Accumulations of more than 25 cm are possible at higher elevations in this area. Snow will continue intermittently on the southern slopes, particularly in the Alta Cerdanya, the rest of the western Pyrenees, and the peaks of the eastern Pyrenees. Exercise caution on the roads, especially towards the Vall d'Aran and north of Pallars Sobirà and Alta Ribagorça. Showers and heavy thunderstorms are also expected in the Balearic Islands, with snow at higher elevations in the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range in Mallorca. Meteocat has issued an alert for the Vall d'Aran due to the expected snowfall at all elevations, which will leave accumulations of more than 5 cm above 700 m.

All of this will be accompanied by strong northerly winds that will be felt everywhere, especially during the second half of the day. The gusts could be strong and very strong in the Terres de l'Ebre, throughout the Empordà region, and on the Pyrenean peaks, where blizzards are expected, and the wind will intensify the feeling of cold.

A quieter weekend and less cold weather.

Minimum temperatures will reach their lowest point in the early hours of Saturday. Early on, there will be widespread frost, which could be intense inland and in the Pyrenees. Warm clothing will be essential. The wintery conditions will continue throughout the day, but maximum temperatures will recover slightly. Sunshine and calm weather will prevail, with no precipitation expected anywhere, although snow will persist until dawn on the northern slopes of the Pyrenees. Winds will ease considerably in the extremes.

On Sunday, a new front will bring rain to the northern slopes of the Pyrenees, intermittently shifting to the southern slopes. Cloud cover will increase in the rest of the country, especially along the coast, but no rain is expected. The arrival of warmer westerly winds and the retreat of the cold Arctic air mass will significantly raise temperatures and the snow level above 1,500 meters.