Goodbye to the winter chill this Immaculate Conception: a clear rise in temperatures is coming.

BarcelonaThe front that crossed us yesterday left a cold and decidedly wintry Thursday, with widespread cloud cover and light rain and drizzle in several areas. Rainfall was light, with some more significant precipitation in the Pyrenees that continued into the early hours of this morning. Over the last few hours, between 5 and 7 liters per square meter accumulated in some areas of the northern slopes and the Alt Pirineu, while 5 liters per square meter fell in Els Ports. Elsewhere, partly cloudy skies prevailed overnight, with winds strengthening in the central and southern parts of the country and in higher elevations in the north. Notable gusts of 94 km/h were recorded in Portbou (Alt Empordà), while speeds exceeded 70 km/h in parts of Tarragona and Barcelona. Today, the northwest wind will persist but gradually weaken. Sunshine will increase, with some rain still possible on the northern slopes of the Pyrenees, and temperatures will begin to rise. All this in anticipation of a long weekend for the Immaculate Conception, a peaceful one to enjoy, and above all with a clear rise in temperatures that will bring us very mild afternoons.

Friday: wind and rising temperatures

The sun will gradually gain ground, although some harmless cloud cover will remain, occasionally making the sky hazy. Only a few light showers are expected on the northern slopes of the Pyrenees, mainly in the morning and again in the late afternoon, with the snow level rising from the initial 1,000 meters to 2,000 meters above that point in the afternoon. Northwesterly winds will continue to blow in several regions, stronger until mid-morning and weaker throughout the day. The most affected areas will be the central and southern parts of the country, the Ponent region, northern Alt Empordà, and the Pyrenean peaks. Some gusts may be strong, so Meteocat has issued a warning for strong winds and gusts exceeding 70 km/h until early morning in several regions between Camp de Tarragona and southern Barcelona.

All this with temperatures set to begin a clear rise. Another wintry morning, with quite a few frosts in the northern half of the country. But minimum temperatures have already risen in the central, southern, and western regions. The coldest time of day will be early in the morning, and in the high mountains, the maximum temperatures will be recorded late in the day. Across the country, many maximum temperatures will range between 12 and 17 ºC during the middle of the day, lower in mountainous areas and the northern interior.

Pure to take advantage of and with little cold

The weekend will begin very pleasantly. Rain will completely disappear from the Pyrenees, and the high-pressure system and sunshine will gradually take over, with only a few scattered clouds and morning fog remaining inland. The wind will also calm considerably. This pleasant weather, perfect for everyone, will extend beyond next Monday, a public holiday and the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

All this with temperatures rising significantly, with very mild middays and much more moderately cold nights. We can expect days with increasingly above-average temperatures. Between the weekend and Monday, many highs will range between 16 and 21°C, but will be even warmer in the south of the country, where they could reach 23°C. Very positive temperatures are also expected in the high mountains.