Some showers until tonight, and tomorrow will be the coldest day, with wind and snow in the Pyrenees.

BarcelonaThe bulk of the very cold air mass from the Arctic began arriving this Thursday. Temperatures have already dropped further, especially in the Pyrenees, with highs falling to -7 or -8°C at an altitude of 2,500 meters. The mercury will reach its lowest point tomorrow, Friday, when the coldest part of the cold snap will hit, bringing strong winds to most areas. Pay attention in the coming hours and into the early hours of the morning between Barcelona and especially the Girona region, where some showers are still expected with the snow level plummeting to 600 or 500 meters, but falling even lower after nightfall. Snowflakes may even be seen around 200 meters in the Empordà region. Light snow is also possible in Els Ports. In fact, light snow has already been seen tonight in the Pre-Pyrenees and in mountains of the pre-coastal area, such as Montseny or the peaks of the Sant Llorenç del Munt and Obac natural park.

Isolated, localized, and fleeting snowfalls are expected at low elevations. Only towards Montseny, the Transversal mountain range, or the Cadiretes massif might there be some dusting of snow. Meteocat has issued a warning for the Baix and Alt Empordà regions for snow at 300 or 400 meters, locally down to 200 meters. An alert is also in effect for Friday in the Vall d'Aran due to snowfall expected at all elevations, with accumulations of more than 5 cm above 700 meters. Strong northerly winds are expected in the south, as well as in the northern Empordà region.

Friday: very cold, windy and snowy in the Pyrenees

The sun will dominate in most regions this Friday. But don't let the clear skies fool you, as the cold will be intense everywhere. A day of deep winter, with very cold temperatures and frost inland in the early hours, and highs of 6 to 12°C, significantly lower in mountainous areas. At the 2,500 m level, minimum temperatures could reach -15°C or lower. This is because the coldest air mass of the Arctic outbreak will arrive this Friday, with temperatures as low as -35°C at around 5,500 meters. These are figures we haven't seen even in some of the last few winters.

Pay attention to the northern slopes of the Pyrenees, as the snowfall will intensify and continue throughout the day at all elevations. More than 25 cm of snow could accumulate at higher elevations in that area during this period. Snowfall may be intermittent on the southern slopes, especially in the Alta Cerdanya, the rest of the western Pyrenees, and the peaks of the eastern Pyrenees. Exercise caution on the roads, particularly 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 mountains of Mallorca.

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.