Lorraine Williamson
Storm Oriana Spain alerts have turned into a national safety story this Saturday, with Spain’s weather agency issuing a red warning in Castellón for wind gusts that could reach 140 km/h. The level is reserved for “extraordinary danger”, and it comes with a simple message: stay indoors where you can, and don’t take risks on the road or the coast.
Across the country, the picture is mixed — fewer areas are seeing persistent heavy rain than earlier in the week, but wind, rough seas and localised snow are keeping a large part of Spain under weather alerts.
Castellón in the red: ES-Alert sent to phones, emergency plans activated
Residents across Castellón province received an Es-Alert message warning of the red-level wind emergency, as local authorities moved to reduce exposure to flying debris and falling trees. Councils have been closing parks and outdoor facilities and cancelling public events, while emergency services reinforce patrols and response teams.
The strongest gusts are expected in parts of the interior, although the coast is also forecast to take a battering. AEMET’s own warning detail for Castellón lists the peak risk window running through Saturday.
DGT imposes traffic restrictions in Castellón
Spain’s traffic authority, the DGT, has introduced temporary measures across Castellón’s roads, including speed restrictions and limits affecting heavy vehicles, aimed at preventing high-sided vehicles from being blown off course and reducing crash risk in sudden gusts.
If you must travel, check for local advisories before setting off and avoid exposed routes where crosswinds are typically worse — bridges, open stretches of motorway, and coastal roads.
What the rest of Spain can expect today
While the red warning is concentrated in Castellón, Storm Oriana’s wider footprint matters for anyone with weekend plans.
Large parts of Spain are seeing wind advisories, plus coastal warnings where wave conditions are expected to be dangerous, particularly along exposed Atlantic and Mediterranean stretches.
Further north, forecasts also point to rain in the Cantabrian area and the possibility of snow at lower levels than usual in some regions, depending on local altitude and timing.
Safety advice: what authorities want people to do
Officials’ guidance is consistent across regions: avoid unnecessary journeys, keep clear of coastal promenades during rough seas, and secure loose items on balconies and terraces. If you’re out, stay well away from trees, scaffolding, temporary structures and any area where falling branches or signage could be a risk.
If you receive an ES-Alert, treat it as urgent. It is designed for situations where conditions can become dangerous quickly and where warnings need to reach everyone, including visitors.
When will it calm down?
The short version: Sunday looks better.
Several forecasts suggest a gradual easing as the weekend progresses, with a calmer pattern expected to arrive after Saturday’s peak wind risk — though local conditions can still change fast near the coast and in high ground.