Catalonia is preparing for a period of unstable weather, with widespread storms, heavy rain, and hail expected across many areas starting on 4 May 2026. This shift marks the end of April's dry spell, according to meteorologists.
The withdrawal of an anticyclone will bring more unsettled conditions throughout the first half of May. Showers and storms have already affected a dozen counties over the 1 May bank holiday weekend, and this is just the start of an intensifying period of wet weather.
Temperatures are also expected to drop, creating a cooler atmosphere that contrasts sharply with April's record-breaking heat. Some areas may experience lower temperatures in early May than they did throughout April, officials said.
Forecast for Monday, 4 May
The weather forecast for Monday, 4 May, predicts a very unstable day with numerous showers and storms impacting many counties. The sky will be chaotic and changeable, featuring brief clear spells alongside large cloud formations.
Downpours and rain are expected from midday, with intense storms in western and northern Catalonia. Dangerous hailstorms are possible in Ponent, the interior, southern Tarragona, and the Pyrenees. Showers will also reach the Barcelona pre-coastal area and inland Girona, though with less intensity.
Moderate southerly winds with gusts could affect the Barcelona and Girona coastlines, precisely where the probability of rain is lower. Temperatures will rise slightly during the day, but variations will be minimal, maintaining a mild spring atmosphere. Maximums are generally forecast between 20°C and 25°C, with slightly choppy seas.
Week-long weather outlook
Tuesday is also expected to be a day of meteorological disruption, similar to Monday, requiring umbrellas to be kept close. Showers and storms are possible anywhere, with localised heavy downpours and the potential for extreme or violent weather phenomena.
Rain could also affect the central coast, although the densest stormy activity will concentrate in the Pyrenees, the interior, and the Terres de l'Ebre region. Temperatures will fall, bringing a normalisation of the weather, so warmer clothing should not be put away yet.
By Wednesday, storms may restrict themselves to the northern half of Catalonia, with significant hailstorms and heavy rain in the northeast and extending to the Costa Brava. Snow showers are possible in the Pyrenees as the snow line is expected to drop to 2,000 metres. A fresh air mass will bring maximum temperatures below 20°C, slightly below the climatic average, resembling April conditions.
Unsettled spring weather is set to continue in the coming days, with unevenly distributed showers and rain, mostly concentrated in the afternoons and more probable in the Pyrenees and the interior. Meteorologists are monitoring Saturday, when a new radical change in weather could bring a spell of heavy rain and storms, according to El Nacional.cat.
