Spring in its purest state this weekend: sun and afternoon storms, but warmer

BarcelonaA weekend begins that will be marked by entirely spring ingredients. Mornings will be generally calm, but in the afternoons clouds will grow, leaving irregular showers and thunderstorms in the Pyrenees, pre-Pyrenees, and nearby areas. In fact, these showers will gain extent and strength, and especially on Sunday they may reach more areas of the northeast and the north of Central Catalonia. Locally, there will be some downpours accompanied by hail or sleet, so caution will be needed if we are in these areas on the weekend, especially if we have planned activities in high mountains. Temperatures will rise and the atmosphere will be warmer, especially on Sunday. All this after a Friday that has already left us many highs from 21 to 26 ºC and some minor showers in the Pyrenees.

Saturday: more afternoon showers

The morning of the first day of the weekend will be calm, with plenty of sun combined with some thin veils of clouds, as well as morning fogs or low clouds in inland plains and in some coastal stretches, especially of the Ebro. From mid-morning, clouds will grow in mountainous areas which, towards the afternoon, will leave irregular showers and storms in parts of the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees. Locally, they will leave some downpours, and they can reach the north of Central Catalonia punctually.

Independently, in the south of the Valencian Country there will be remnants of some clouds and weak showers. In the rest of the territory, the sun will continue to dominate, with temperatures that will rise overall. Very moderate cold and morning freshness, and most maximums will range between 22 and 27 ºC, locally higher in Ponent and in the interior of the Ebro. Where it rains in the afternoon, it will cool down suddenly.

Sunday: more heat and thunderstorms

Temperatures will still climb higher on Sunday, especially along the coast, the pre-coast, and the southern half of the country. Very warm atmosphere at midday, with values higher than what would be expected for this time of year. Many maximums will range between 23 and 28 ºC, but in Ponent, Priorat, and the interior of the Ebre, they may once again reach or locally reach 30 ºC.

Although it will be hotter, the cloud cover will grow with more energy. Starting in the mid-morning, the first showers may escape, but it will be from midday and during the afternoon that showers and thunderstorms will spread to any point in the Pyrenees, Pre-Pyrenees, and northern Central Catalonia.

However, precipitation will gain intensity and extent, and some showers may also reach points in the northeast and the coast of Barcelona. Some downpours will occur, which may locally leave more than 20 l/m² in just half an hour, even with hail or sleet. In the rest of the territories, sun and calm will continue to dominate.

A typically spring situation with calm mornings and afternoon thunderstorms in some counties that will continue next week. We could even have a progressive increase in instability, which would cause showers to reach more areas.