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Festa Major de Sants begins under the threat of rain and storms
Festa Major de Sants begins this Saturday, 22 August, with residents looking to the sky more than usual. The decorated streets will open a celebration that runs until the 30th, but its first hours will be affected by the rain and storms forecast in Barcelona.
The most delicate moment will come during the early hours. Barcelona’s coast has an active yellow warning for rain and storms until 6 in the morning, with the possibility of intense precipitation, hail and strong gusts of wind. It is an especially inconvenient combination for decorations that have been installed outdoors for weeks.
The situation should improve as Saturday progresses. Some showers may still appear in the morning, but clear spells and periods of sun are expected in the afternoon. Temperatures will range approximately between 22 and 29 degrees, far from the extreme night heat Barcelona has suffered for much of August.
On Sunday the 23rd, the thermometer will rise slightly again, with a high close to 30 degrees and a low of 23. There will be humidity and the possibility of a shower in the afternoon, so outdoor activities will continue to depend on weather that can change quickly.
Monday the 24th now appears as another of the most unstable days at the start of the festivities. Considerably cloudy skies and showers are expected, with temperatures around 30 degrees during the day. For festival committees, the concern is not only having to move an activity: water can damage decorations built over months from cardboard, paper, wood and reused materials.
From Tuesday, the situation changes. The forecast points to more sun and a significant rise in heat, with highs that could reach 34 degrees. Wednesday would remain warm and humid, while Thursday would again bring the possibility of some showers, especially during the early hours.
The forecast for the final stretch of the festival still has too much uncertainty to take rain or completely clear days for granted. Several days ahead, small changes in atmospheric evolution can shift showers by a few hours or make them disappear, so it will be advisable to check the forecast before heading to Sants.
Water thus threatens to intrude on the opening, but for now it does not seem able to ruin the whole weekend. The most delicate scene will come before much of the neighbourhood wakes up: storms during the early hours, residents checking their decorations first thing and, if the sky gives them a break, Sants streets filling with people from the afternoon.