Lorraine Williamson
Spain is heading into a more unsettled spell of spring weather, with yellow alerts in place across parts of the country on Tuesday, April 28, as storms, heavy downpours, hail, and strong gusts return after last week’s unusually warm conditions.
Spain´s latest weather warnings for Tuesday, updated from AEMET, place parts of nine autonomous communities under a yellow warning for rain and storms. Cádiz also has a coastal warning linked to easterly winds in the Strait area.
A changeable week before the May bank holiday
The warnings come as Spain enters the final days of April under a more unstable weather pattern. AEMET has indicated that mornings may still begin relatively calm in many areas, but cloud will build from the middle of the day, bringing showers and storms across inland areas. Some storms may be locally strong and accompanied by hail or sudden gusts of wind.
The shift follows several warm, almost summer-like days in parts of Spain. Temperatures are now expected to ease back, especially in the southern half of the peninsula, although values will remain mild for the time of year in many regions.
Where are the weather warnings in Spain?
According to AEMET forecasts reported by Europa Press, yellow warnings for rain and storms on Tuesday affect areas of Andalucia, Asturias, Cantabria, Castilla y León, Castilla-La Mancha, Extremadura, Galicia, the Basque Country and La Rioja.
In Andalucia, the affected areas are Granada and Jaén, including the Cuenca del Genil in Granada and the Capital and Montes area of Jaén. These warnings are due to the possibility of up to 15 litres per square metre in one hour, with storms possible during the afternoon.
In Extremadura, most of the region is under a yellow warning, except the south of Badajoz. Alerts are expected to remain active from 3.00 pm to 10.00 pm, with rain totals of up to 15 litres per square metre in one hour and storms that could bring strong or very strong gusts, as well as occasional hail.
Northern and western Spain also affected
In Galicia, AEMET has activated yellow warnings for storms in the four provinces between 3.00 pm and 9.00 pm on Tuesday. MeteoGalicia has also issued a yellow warning for the sea off the north-west of A Coruña because of north-easterly winds reaching force 7.
The storm warnings also cover inland and mountain areas of Asturias, including the south-west and the Cordillera and Picos de Europa. In Cantabria, Liébana, the centre and Valle de Villaverde, and Cantabria del Ebro are among the affected areas.
In Castilla y León, warnings are expected in parts of Ávila, Burgos, León, Palencia, Salamanca and Zamora. And, in Castilla-La Mancha, the affected provinces include Ciudad Real and Toledo. Alerts also cover Álava in the Basque Country and the Ibérica Riojana in La Rioja.
Cádiz has a separate coastal warning
Cádiz is not only affected by the wider unsettled pattern. A separate yellow coastal warning is active for the litoral gaditano, with easterly Levante winds of 50 to 61 km/h, force 7, expected west of Tarifa and south of Trafalgar during the early hours of Tuesday.
Conditions in the Strait can change quickly when Levante strengthens. Small boats, coastal activities and ferry routes are often more exposed in this area, so travellers and sea users should check official updates before setting off.
Why storms may feel sudden
This is not expected to be a day of continuous rain everywhere. The main risk is from showers and storms developing during the central and later hours of the day, especially inland and in mountain areas. That means conditions could change quickly, with sunny or bright spells giving way to sudden downpours.
AEMET’s broader outlook points to abundant afternoon cloud development across large areas of the interior, particularly in the north, west, centre, south-eastern mountains and parts of the Pyrenees. Some storms could bring hail and strong wind gusts.
Wednesday could bring wider instability
The unsettled spell is not expected to end on Tuesday. Forecasts suggest Wednesday, April 29, may be one of the most unstable days of the week, with showers and storms possible in a wider area of Spain. The Mediterranean coast may escape the worst of it, but inland areas remain under close watch.
The weather could remain changeable into the May bank holiday, especially in northern and eastern Spain. It is still too early to pin down exact local conditions for the long weekend, but AEMET and forecasters are already pointing to a mix of calmer spells, afternoon showers and possible storms.
Check alerts before travelling
Anyone travelling on Tuesday, especially through mountain roads or inland areas under warning, should check the latest AEMET warnings before setting off. Drivers should also be prepared for sudden heavy rain, reduced visibility, surface water and gusty winds.
The yellow warning level means there is a risk, but not an extreme one. Even so, spring storms in Spain can be intense and localised. One town may see little more than clouds, while another nearby can experience hail, heavy rain and strong gusts within a short time.
With the May bank holiday approaching, the main advice is simple: check the forecast locally, avoid exposed areas during storms, and keep an eye on official alerts as warnings may change through the week.