Warning for strong winds starting tonight in many regions

BarcelonaThe weather continues to be very changeable and erratic this week due to the passage of several Atlantic fronts. Over the last few hours, temperatures have risen sharply, with highs already exceeding 20°C in the south of the country. A notable high of 24.6°C was recorded in Ulldecona (Montsià). This has also pushed the snow level above 2,000 meters in the Pyrenees, with continuous precipitation, especially on the northern slopes, which has already yielded locally more than 20 or 30 liters per square meter since yesterday. This pre-spring-like weather will persist on Wednesday, but the main news for the coming days will be the strong westerly winds expected in many areas. These winds will begin tonight, with the peak expected on Thursday, with gusts exceeding 80 km/h in many places, and reaching 100 km/h in the windiest areas. Civil Protection has activated the Ventcat plan, and Meteocat has issued warnings for strong winds in many regions between Wednesday and Thursday.

Wednesday: Strong winds and changeable weather

The westerly wind will strengthen and blow strongly during the early morning hours in the central and southern parts of the country 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 return to forceful strength at night.

All of this will be accompanied by very 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, with many highs between 17 and 22 °C, 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. The snow level will remain high, and although it will be below 2,000 m in the morning, it will rise again to around 2,400 m in the afternoon.

Peak of the windstorm on Thursday

The windstorm will reach its peak and most critical point on Thursday, especially during the early morning and midday hours. 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 not typically affected by such conditions, such as the Barcelona area. This is going to be a very severe storm; please take extreme precautions.

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 and will concentrate in the far reaches of the country. Temperatures will begin to drop on Thursday, but they will return to normal between Friday and the weekend. Thursday will be sunny, but showers will return to several areas on Friday.