A weekend to enjoy: the most peaceful days of the year so far are here.

BarcelonaA radiant weekend is about to begin, perfect for enjoying everywhere without exception, with a pre-spring feel at midday. We'll be leaving behind the gale-force winds, which have clearly subsided in recent hours, after producing gusts of over 100 km/h in the far reaches of the country and at high altitudes (you'll find the most important data on this episode at the end of this report). A high-pressure system will settle in and stay with us for several days, bringing sunshine, morning fog, and a contrasting temperature between the morning chill and the pre-spring-like warmth we'll experience at midday. Therefore, the longest period of stable weather so far this year begins, after two consecutive months of storms and fronts that have brought us extraordinary rain, snow, and strong winds. In fact, since January 1st, we've been affected by nine storms, and since the start of the season – September 1st – we've had sixteen, an extraordinary number.

Saturday: radiant day

The sun will dominate this first day of the weekend everywhere. There will only be a few wisps of thin, fleeting, and decorative clouds, as well as morning fog in plains and inland valleys, which will begin to lift from mid-morning onwards. During the early morning hours, a moderate mistral wind will still blow in the Ebro Valley, eventually dissipating, and the tramontana wind will also cease completely in the Empordà region after lunchtime. This stable weather will be accompanied by a marked temperature contrast between day and night. It will be colder in the early morning, but maximum temperatures will generally rise, with a significant increase in the Pyrenees, where, after days of freezing conditions, highs will be above freezing. Be aware of the avalanche risk during these days, as it will increase with the rising temperatures, and there is still a significant amount of snow cover throughout the Pyrenees. Across the country, many temperatures are expected to be between 15 and 20°C, slightly higher in the south.

Sunday: a taste of spring

The calm weather will continue on Sunday, with generally sunny skies and renewed morning fog, although there will be some thin bands of clouds more prevalent than on Saturday. Additionally, some isolated low clouds may appear along coastal areas in the early morning and late evening due to the contrast between the cold sea water and the milder air temperature. Minor variations in an otherwise calm environment.

Furthermore, temperatures will rise even further. Minimum temperatures will soar in the high mountains, with a marked temperature inversion, meaning it will be colder at night and in the morning at lower elevations than at higher elevations. Maximum temperatures will also increase significantly, creating an overall pre-spring feel. Many highs are expected to reach between 17 and 22°C, even higher in the south of the country. Temperatures will be somewhat more moderate along the coast due to the influence of the still quite cold sea water.

The stable weather will continue for much of next week, with very mild afternoons, sunshine, morning fog, and a marked temperature contrast between the moderate cold in the early hours and the pleasant midday temperatures. There will also be significant temperature inversions. No significant changes or rain are expected, nor are any winter cold snaps.

Wind Balance

The latest episode of strong winds has been felt in many parts of the country, although with clear exceptions such as much of the northeast. The strongest gusts were recorded at higher elevations, between the Ebro River and the Camp de Tarragona region, inland Castellón, in northern Alt Empordà, and in northern Catalonia. In these areas, winds exceeded 100 km/h on numerous occasions, while in other areas of central and southern Spain, gusts ranged between 60 and 80 km/h, including in the Barcelona area, which saw the majority of incidents. The peak of the episode occurred between the early hours of Thursday and Friday. These are the strongest wind gusts recorded during the entire episode:

• 156 km/h: Portbou
• 144 km/h: La Tosa de Alp (2,478 m)
• 128 km/h: Boí (2,535 m)
• 128 km/h: El Perelló
• 124 km/h: L'Hospitalet de l'Infant
• 121 km/h: La Riba
• 113 km/h: the Port del Comte
• 107 km/h: Mas de Barberans
• 106 km/h: Espot (2,519 m)
• 106 km/h: Almoster
• 104 km/h: Montsec d'Ares (1,572 m)
• 101 km/h: Font-rubí
• 101 km/h: Montserrat
• 101 km/h: Ulldecona
• 100 km/h: Miami Beach
• 96 km/h: Puig Sesolles
• 96 km/h: Els Ports