Winter weather today: new cold snap, strong winds and snow in the Pyrenees

BarcelonaThe change in weather over the last few hours has brought back strong northerly winds. Yesterday, gusts locally exceeded 100 km/h in the south of the country, such as in El Perelló (Baix Ebre) and Mas de Barberans (Montsià). This morning, wind speeds were also surpassed in Portbou (Alt Empordà). Today, the wind will be particularly strong in the Pyrenees, the Pre-Pyrenees, and the Empordà region. Warnings have been issued for winds that will be felt everywhere, to varying degrees. Temperatures have dropped in the last few hours, so it's essential to dress warmly this morning, as maximum temperatures will reach their lowest point today due to the peak of the new polar air mass. Winter conditions with below-average temperatures will be accompanied by sunshine, except on the northern slopes of the Pyrenees, where snow is still expected. The snowfall began last night and spread to the southern slopes, with a sharp drop in the snow level. During the last few hours, snow has been seen from Vall d'Aran to Ripollès.

Wednesday: cold and windy

The northerly winds will bring strong to very strong gusts, especially in the Empordà region and on the peaks of the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees, also reaching some valleys. The mistral wind will be noticeable, ranging from light to moderate, in most areas, but with locally strong gusts again between the Ebro River and the Camp de Tarragona region and in higher elevations. A blizzard is expected in the high Pyrenees, bringing freezing temperatures. The Ventcat plan remains active at the alert level, and Meteocat has issued orange and red warnings for rough seas in the Empordà region and gusts that could exceed 90 km/h on the Costa Brava, the Pyrenees, and the Pre-Pyrenees.

There will be generally bright sunshine, but snowfall is expected on the northern slopes of the Pyrenees at practically all elevations, although precipitation will ease in the afternoon. Intermittent snowfall is possible on the southern slopes at some point. There will also be some localized showers in the Balearic Islands. Temperatures will drop even further, creating a cold and wintry feel, with values around 5 degrees below average for this time of year. This morning, it is essential to dress warmly, as there is frost in inland and northeastern areas, and the day begins with temperatures between -9 and -12 degrees Celsius in the higher elevations of the Pyrenees. Highs will range between 8 and 13 degrees Celsius, lower in mountainous areas and slightly higher in the south. Temperatures will remain below freezing throughout the day in the mid- and high-altitude areas of the Pyrenees.

A little bit of everything in the next few days

Thursday's early morning will be decidedly wintry with a significant frost, but from then on and over the following days, temperatures will gradually recover and return to normal for this time of year, both day and night. All of this will be accompanied by calm and sunny weather. Only some light, intermittent precipitation is expected on the northern slopes of the Pyrenees, with the snow level rising above 1,000 or 1,500 meters. The northerly wind will noticeably weaken and subside.

However, it seems the weekend will end with another change in the weather. A front will bring renewed instability, and a new pocket of cold air will lower temperatures and the snow level. According to current weather maps, Sunday should be a colder day, with snowfall in the Pyrenees and some scattered showers elsewhere in the country—a situation we will have to confirm.