The alert level for strong winds has been raised to the highest level for tomorrow.
The worst day of this episode of wind driven by Storm Nils will be Thursday, with gusts that could easily exceed 100 km/h
BarcelonaThe westerly wind storm, driven by the new Atlantic storm, is already here. NilesThis is the eighth major storm of the year. During the night and early morning, gusts have already exceeded 80 km/h in several coastal and pre-coastal areas of Barcelona and Tarragona, as well as in the northern part of the Alt Empordà region, including areas not typically affected by strong winds, such as the Barcelona metropolitan area. Notable gusts include 140 km/h at Puig Sesolles (1,668 m elevation in Montseny), 104 km/h in El Perelló (Baix Ebre), 95 km/h in Portbou (Alt Empordà), 92 km/h in Terrassa (Vallès Occidental), and 89 km/h at the Port of Barcelona. The wind has temporarily subsided, but the worst of the storm is expected on Thursday, affecting many regions with gusts that could exceed 80 or 100 km/h in several areas—a situation not seen for years. Meteocat has just raised the alert level for strong winds to the maximum for tomorrow in many regions, with red alerts in the same area of Barcelona, and Civil Protection maintains the Ventcat plan on alert.
The weather continues to be very changeable and erratic this week due to the passage of several Atlantic fronts. Temperatures have risen sharply in the last few hours, with highs exceeding 20°C yesterday in the south of the country. A notable high of 24.6°C was recorded in Ulldecona (Montsià). The snow level has also risen above 2,000 meters in the Pyrenees, with more sustained precipitation on the northern slopes, where rainfall has already exceeded 30 or 40 liters per square meter in some areas since Monday. The pre-spring-like conditions will persist for the next few hours despite the wind, with winter weather expected to return over the weekend.
Wednesday: Strong winds and changeable weather
The westerly wind will persist throughout Wednesday, blowing strongly, especially in the morning, across central and southern Spain and in higher elevations, as well as in many areas of the Valencian Community and parts of the Balearic Islands. Speeds could exceed 70 km/h in many places. There will be a brief respite from the strong winds in the afternoon, but they will not disappear completely, with a return to strong winds expected in the evening. All of this will be accompanied by highly changeable skies and weather. Tomorrow will bring more sunshine and generally no rain. Only a few showers are expected in the Pyrenees – mainly on the northern slopes – and perhaps in other areas of the northern third of the country, such as the Alt Empordà region early in the morning. Temperatures will be similar to or slightly higher than usual, with many highs reaching 17 to 22 °C, and higher in the south.
From the afternoon onwards, cloud cover will increase again, bringing new precipitation to the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees, especially around Lleida, as well as another round of showers from the west that will sweep across the country eastward until nightfall. Little rain is expected outside the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees, and the precipitation will weaken as it approaches the coast. The snow level will remain high, and while it will be below 2,000 meters in the morning, it will rise again to around 2,400 meters in the afternoon.
Peak of the windstorm on Thursday
The windstorm will reach its peak and most critical point on Thursday. Strong winds will intensify from the early hours of the morning, and throughout the day the storm will affect almost all of Catalonia, the Valencian Community, and the Balearic Islands, with gusts exceeding 80 km/h in many areas, and reaching 100 or 110 km/h in the windiest zones, including places unaccustomed to such speeds. This will be a very severe storm that will not begin to subside until mid-afternoon or late afternoon; exercise extreme caution.
From the afternoon onwards, the wind will gradually weaken, but it won't disappear completely. On Friday, it will shift to the mistral and tramontana winds, concentrating in the far reaches of the country, where the windstorm will remain significant until Saturday. Temperatures will begin to drop on Thursday, but they will return to normal between Friday and the weekend, bringing back a more wintry feel. Thursday will be sunny, but showers will return to several regions on Friday.