Freezing nights and frost grip Spain

Weather warnings across 12 regions

by Lorraine Williamson
cold weather Spain

Large parts of Spain are facing severe cold, with weather warnings issued across 12 autonomous regions on Wednesday, January 15. The Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has highlighted Castilla y León as the hardest-hit area, where temperatures could plummet to -10°C under an orange alert, indicating significant risk.

Castilla y León Faces extreme cold

Castilla y León is experiencing the brunt of the cold wave. The provinces of Soria and Segovia are under orange weather alerts, with high plains temperatures expected to drop to -10°C. Yellow warnings (moderate risk) cover the rest of the region, forecasting lows of -9°C in Ávila’s high plains and Zamora’s Sanabria area, while other provinces anticipate minimums of -6°C.

Northern Spain sees bitter conditions

Northern regions, including Navarra, Aragón, and Cantabria, are also enduring frigid temperatures, ranging from -4°C to -6°C. In Galicia, the southern part of Ourense province is forecast to see lows of -4°C.

Cold weather extends to central Spain

In central Spain, Madrid’s mountainous areas are under a yellow warning, with temperatures dropping to -6°C. The city’s urban zones and surrounding plains expect slightly higher lows of around -4°C, with the chill felt more keenly in valleys and open spaces.

Freezing temperatures in Castilla-La Mancha and Extremadura

Castilla-La Mancha is grappling with severe cold, as temperatures dip to -8°C in Parameras de Molina (Guadalajara) and -7°C in the Cuenca mountains. Alcarria (Cuenca) expects minimums of -6°C, while parts of Ciudad Real, such as La Mancha and the Guadiana and Tagus valleys, face lows of -4°C. In Extremadura, the Guadiana Valley, La Siberia, and Cáceres high plains are under yellow warnings, with temperatures forecast at -4°C.

Southern Spain and the Mediterranean region affected

Andalucia has issued a yellow warning for temperatures as low as -4°C in the Córdoba mountains and Los Pedroches, while the plains could see -1°C. Granada’s Genil Valley, Baza, and Guadix are braced for lows of -4°C.

Along the Mediterranean coast, inland areas continue to face sub-zero temperatures. Murcia’s highlands and northwest are forecast to see lows of -4°C, while Valencia’s northern inland region, particularly Rincón de Ademuz, could experience -6°C. Alicante’s interior is set to reach -4°C.

In Catalonia, all provinces are under yellow alerts, with temperatures ranging from -6°C to -4°C. Additionally, Ampurdán (Girona) faces coastal warnings for strong winds of 50-60 km/h and waves of 2-3 metres.

Outlook: Cold nights to persist

While daytime temperatures are expected to rise slightly on Wednesday, AEMET predicts continued freezing nights. Minimum temperatures of -5°C are likely in the northern high plains and other inland regions. Daytime highs in the north will remain below 10°C.

Thursday is expected to bring similar conditions, with a slight easing of the cold. A developing DANA (isolated cold front) could bring showers and potential storms to the Mediterranean coast and Balearic Islands. By Friday, precipitation may extend inland, with snow possible in mountainous areas.

Weekend weather: Gradual warm-up

The weekend is set to bring more stable conditions and a slight rise in temperatures. However, frost will persist overnight in inland areas, with lows of -4°C continuing in northern high plains regions.

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