Spain’s peninsula and Balearic Islands to face a full weekend of ‘hurricane gusts’.

by Else BeekmanElse Beekman
Hurricane Herminia

This weekend, the majority of the Peninsula and the Balearic Islands is set to face winds reaching hurricane speeds. The significant maritime storm, named Herminia and the eighth storm of the season, will also bring geographically spread rains. The Aemet (The State Meteorological Agency) announced this in a-one off warning for the damaging potential of the storm.

Although Herminia is not directly targeting Spain, its proximity will cause widespread rainfall and strong winds. Aemet’s spokesperson, Rubén del Campo, said that after the storms on Friday in Galicia, on Sunday Spain can expect more geographically spread storms, and even count on ‘hurricane gusts’. Then, the Peninsula and Balearic Islands will be battling very fierce winds and even ‘local hurricanes’ reaching speeds exceeding 120 kilometres per hour.

Despite the challenging conditions, temperatures will remain unusually warm for this time of year, with coastal cities like Bilbao, Barcelona, and Valencia reaching up to 20°C or more.

Cyclogenesis to worsen conditions of the storm

Sunday’s storm is expected to be more threatening because of the intensified process of cylcogenesis. Cyclogenesis is the strengthening of an area of low pressure in the atmosphere, resulting in the formation of a cyclone. The pressure present in the central part of the storm will minimalise fairly rapidly, which increases the chances of this being a more dangerous storm than initially expected.

Éowyn’s turn

After the impact of Éowyn, and due to the powerful system Herminia, Galicia and the Cantabria region will experience winds exceeding 100 kilometres per hour, causing waves that will most probably be at least six metres tall. Western Galicia, where storms and rains will hit first, should expect very heavy rains. The peninsula could see weaker rains and for now the Mediterranean and Balearic Islands are left untouched by the storm. However, here, snow is expected at higher altitudes. Particularly in the Pyrenees and the Cantabrian mountains, where it could fall at elevations above 2,200 metres.

A new wave on Monday?

Monday could potentially be the most damaging and threatening day of the Atlantic storm Herminia, with many of Spain’s coasts now expected to be part of the strong rain and wind gusts. Hurricane speeds have also not yet been ruled out for Monday, and it will rain heavily in practically the entirety of the peninsula.

Canary Islands spared

The Canary Islands will only have to deal with some drizzle at most, although it is expected that generally they will only be met with some dark clouds but no wind gusts or extreme rain. At most, light drizzles from time to time.

Weather warnings

Following the predictions AEMET has issued orange warnings for Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, Castilla y León, and Navarra due to the combination of strong winds and dangerous seas. Yellow warnings have also been placed in the Basque Country and La Rioja.

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