Catalan authorities have issued pre-alerts for strong winds and rough seas as the region prepares for a significant weather shift beginning Tuesday. Catalonia’s Civil Protection has activated emergency plans, warning of intense waves and powerful wind gusts expected to affect coastal areas throughout the middle of the week.
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The change marks an end to the recent period of calm, with forecasters predicting an unsettled few days. Tuesday will bring widespread cloud cover and haze, with a notable amount of suspended Saharan dust that could lead to sporadic, muddy showers, particularly in the Maresme and Vallès Oriental regions. This phenomenon has previously affected visibility in Barcelona, contributing to hazy skies over the city.
Despite the gloomy outlook, temperatures will remain unseasonably mild. A southerly airflow will keep minimum and maximum temperatures between two and four degrees above the early March average, creating a distinctly spring-like feel.
Coastal Warnings Activated
The primary concern for authorities is the deteriorating maritime conditions. On Monday, Protecció Civil placed the region on pre-alert, activating the Inuncat plan for rough seas and the Ventcat plan for high winds, according to news agency Europa Press.
The Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya (Meteocat) forecasts waves could exceed two metres off the Barcelona coast from Tuesday. Conditions will worsen significantly into Wednesday, when Meteocat will issue an official warning for rough seas for the coastline stretching from the Garraf region south to Montsià. Waves in this area, including the Terres de l’Ebre, could surpass 2.5 metres. Officials strongly advise the public to avoid walking near breakwaters and jetties during this period.
In addition to the high seas, strong easterly winds will sweep across the coast. Gusts could reach 55 to 60 km/h in parts of Barcelona on Tuesday, especially in hillside neighbourhoods and areas near the Llobregat river. Meteocat forecasts the wind to intensify on Wednesday, issuing an alert for gusts potentially exceeding 70 km/h in a wide area from Maresme down to the Tarragonès comarca.
Outlook: Storm Regina to Bring Rain
This period of wind and waves precedes a more significant weather event. Forecasters are tracking ‘Storm Regina’, a low-pressure system expected to bring more persistent rainfall to the region from Thursday onwards.
According to local broadcaster betevé, the most notable and continuous rain will likely fall between Thursday and Friday as the storm system establishes itself. This follows a pattern of drier spells being broken by more intense periods of rain, a topic Barna.News has covered in previous weather reports, including the lead-up to weekend rainfall after stable conditions.
While the incoming weather is not currently classified as an exceptional or major storm, the combination of high winds and powerful waves has prompted authorities to urge public caution. Authorities activate the Ventcat plan when there is a risk of significant disruption, a situation that has previously led to widespread alerts across the region. For more information, see our explainer on Catalonia’s alert system for strong winds.
