Saturday starts with a scenario that mixes stability and first symptoms of change. Up to seven autonomous communities are on alert for adverse meteorological phenomena, with special attention to the Catalan coast, where Girona and Tarragona register an orange warning for swell.
The wind and the state of the sea are the main protagonists of the day, with active warnings also in the Balearic Islands, the Cantabrian coast and points of the Mediterranean. To this is added the risk of snowfalls in mountain areas, especially in the surroundings of the Pyrenees.
The day is marked by the passage of a weak front that is gaining presence as the hours advance. In the northern half, the skies tend to cloud over, while precipitation begins to appear in the Cantabrian slope, the upper Ebro, and mountainous areas of the north.
Where it is going to rain and snow this Saturday
The rains will not be widespread, but they will be persistent in some northern areas. The Cantabrian Sea concentrates the highest probability of precipitation, with progressive extension towards the interior of the peninsular north.
Snow appears as one of the most relevant factors of the weekend. The snow level drops notably throughout the day, going from 1,200 or 1,400 meters to being between 600 and 900 meters. This opens the door to snowfalls in areas where they are not common at this time of March.
In the Pyrenees and areas of the Cantabrian mountain range, significant accumulations could be recorded, while in the northern plateau and inland areas, weak frosts are expected.
The rest of Spain: deceptive stability
While the north complicates, the rest of the country maintains a relative calm. In a large part of the Peninsula, clear skies or with few clouds dominate, although with some exceptions in the southeast and the Alboran surroundings, where cloudy intervals may appear in the early hours.
In the Balearic Islands, the situation is more unstable, with variable skies and a possibility of occasional showers, while in the Canary Islands the usual pattern is maintained: clouds in the north of the islands and clearer weather in the south.
Sunday: the true change arrives
The most important turn arrives on Sunday, when a mass of cold air of polar origin enters the Peninsula and Balearic Islands.
This change completely transforms the scenario: the northern precipitations turn into snow in wide areas, with elevations that could drop to 400 or 700 meters. This means snowfalls not only in the mountains, but also in lower areas of the north.
The drop in temperatures will be widespread, with frosts in inland and mountain areas. The wind, furthermore, intensifies, especially in the northeast, the Balearic Islands and areas of the peninsular center.
What weather will it be like in Holy Week after the weekend
Beyond the weekend, the forecast points to a certain stabilization.
Between Monday and Thursday, the weather will tend to be more stable in most of the country, although the north will continue with intermittent rain and snow in mountain areas. However, a new change is not ruled out if a low-pressure system ends up entering from the east or south, especially affecting the Balearic Islands.
In summary, a start of Holy Week that begins with calm but that leaves a clearly wintry weekend in the north.