The coming hours will see the arrival of rain in Catalonia and Barcelona. A mass of air of polar origin could put an end to the intense heat and humidity that have dominated recent weeks. This weather change, driven by a trough of cold air at altitude, could bring episodes of rain, storms, and possible locally heavy hail or hailstorms.
From mid-afternoon this Thursday, an increase in instability is expected with intermittent showers that could last until Monday, August 24th. Although it will not rain everywhere or continuously, the sky will gradually become cloudier, especially along the coast and pre-coastal areas of Tarragona, Central Catalonia, and the Eastern Pyrenees.
From late afternoon into the evening, precipitation cores will approach the city of Barcelona and neighboring municipalities. Locally intense rainfall is expected, with over 20 l/m² in half an hour in the Barcelona coast and pre-coastal areas. Caution is advised on the roads and for outdoor activities, as showers could be accompanied by strong gusts of wind and some hail.
The rain will tend to move from Tarragona towards Girona. During the early morning, the possibility of new showers along the coast and pre-coastal areas of Barcelona and Girona will be high. On Friday morning, precipitation could be more intense near the sea, particularly affecting the metropolitan area and the southern Costa Brava until midday.
In the rest of Catalonia, fog may appear on Friday morning where it has rained, but the sun will quickly gain ground. Friday afternoon is expected to be changeable and unstable, with showers in the Pyrenees, especially in Ripollès and Garrotxa. The most intense showers could head towards the coast of Tarragona and southern Barcelona during the night from Friday to Saturday.
This episode of occasionally heavy rain will mark the end of the most persistent heat and humidity. Temperatures will tend to return to their usual values for late August, with general highs between 25 and 30 ºC, allowing for better breathing and less torrid nights.
