Wintry weather in middle of spring

It may be April and the middle of spring, but Catalonia woke up Sunday to heavy frost inland and snow falling at altitudes as low as 200m.

There were icy temperatures in much of the west, in Central Catalonia and inland parts of Girona and Tarragona, with general temperatures between -3°C and -6°C.

Unseasonal snowfall was recorded in coastal areas, including in the Garraf and Tibidabo hills, the latter overlooking the Catalan capital of Barcelona.

Snow was also seen in places such as Sant Pere de Ribes, Cerdanyola del Vallès, and even the seaside town of Sitges.

Weather warning

Catalonia's Civil Protection agency has warned of the possibility of snowfall at low altitudes in counties such as Baix Llobregat, Vallès Oriental, Vallès Occidental and La Selva on Sunday.

According to the Catalan Meteorological Service, the snow could fall at altitudes of 200m, with up to 2cm of precipitation expected at 500m.

Counties such as Osona, Garrotxa, Ripollès, Bages and Moianès could also be affected.

Civil Protection recommends exercising a high degree of caution if traveling in any of these areas, and to check the condition of roads before setting off on any journey.

Fruit production hit

Fruit producers in western Catalonia say the frost on Saturday night and Sunday morning will cause "significant losses" in production.

Peach, nectarine, apricot, and almond trees are the worst affected because they have been flowering over the past weeks.

Pear trees have also been affected, although they have not fully flowered yet, while the impact on apple trees is expected to be lower, although it will depend on the variety.

Pere Roqué, president of Asaja Lleida, a group that represents agricultural businesses in the area, says that the fall in production will affect "a very large area", and has warned that if the thermometers drop below zero on Sunday, it will be a "catastrophe" for the sector, as the trees cannot cope with the cold for so many hours in a row.