Sub-zero temperatures across Catalonia including coastal areas

Wintry weather is peaking these days in Catalonia, as sub-zero temperatures reached the whole country in the early hours of Sunday morning, including some coastal areas.

Thermometers dropped to -15ºC in some locations up in the Pyrenees mountains, such as -15.7ºC in La Tosa d'Alp, at 2,500 meters above the sea level, or -15.5ºC in Bonaigua (2,266 meters).

As for weather stations outside the top of the mountains, temperatures were as low as -10ºC in the inland, and reached -4ºC in the coast.

Vielha (-10.7ºC), Vic (-8.3ºC), Orís (-8ºC), Cardona (-7.7ºC) and Sant Salvador de Guardiola (-7.3ºC) saw some of the coldest sunrises in the country.

In the coast, very infrequent temperatures were registered, especially in Viladecans (-4ºC), Cunit (-3.7ºC), and Malgrat de Mar (-2.6ºC).

In Barcelona, temperatures oscillated around 0ºC, with a minimum of -1.9ºC at the port, +0.4ºC in the Zoo by Parc de la Ciutadella, and +2.7ºC in Raval, in the old town.

Thermometers were only slightly above zero degrees in the Empordà area, in the northeastern end of Catalonia, in the Costa Daurada coast around Tarragona, and in the Ebre river delta region, in the south. High winds with gusts of between 50km/h and 80km/h prevented temperatures from dropping more in these areas.

Alert for cold weather activated

The Catalan meteorological service (Meteocat) warns that Sunday night may be as cold as the previous one.

Indeed, Civil Protection issued an alert for cold weather for the whole weekend until Monday 6am – this protocol affects 38 out of the 42 Catalan counties.

Authorities also warn that winds can be very strong on Sunday morning, especially in the Pyrenees, with risk of avalanches.