Barcelona weather update

Much of the Formula 1 fraternity expect the customary bright weather conditions to signal the start of the European season although the Spanish Grand Prix could be affected by rain this weekend. Should this week's heavy showers continue on Sunday, 2010 would mark the first wet Barcelona race since 1996.

As if by a miracle, the Spanish Grand Prix weekend has avoided several wet May weekends in recent years although the race at the Circuit de Catalunya could be affected by downpours this weekend, with the region currently being hit by constant rain and gusts of wind.

Barcelona city centre and its surrounding area have endured steady showers since the early hours of Monday morning, with local forecasts suggesting that the wet weather is set to continue until the end of the working week and across the weekend.

However, a possibility remains that Friday's free practice could be staged in the dry, only for light rain to then affect proceedings on Saturday.

Due to the overcast conditions at present, a lack of sunlight is resulting in cool ambient temperatures in the early to mid teens although figures are expected to rise to the early 20s by the time the weekend arrives.