MADRID – A storm coming from the north of America is heading towards Spain and will cause from Tuesday a sudden change in the weather pattern. That takes some getting used to after an Easter in which several temperature records were broken. It will feel much like it has changed from summer to winter overnight.
For example, Málaga experienced its warmest Easter day ever on Sunday, April 17, with 33.1ºC measured at the airport. Only in the Canary Islands was it warmer with 34.8ºC. However, the early summer weather is now coming to an end in large parts of the peninsula. In some places, the mercury can drop as much as 12 to 15 degrees. Moreover, it will rain and here and there even snow below the limit of 1,000 metres.
The Atlantic squall is moving west to Spain and is behind the sudden weather change. The storm has not yet been given a name but will enter the country via the northwest of Spain.
The storm will move towards the centre of the Mediterranean in the first half of the week. As it passes, the front causes temperatures to drop to values below normal temperatures for the time of year. The Atlantic air brings coldness and high humidity.
Worst cold in the north of Spain
The areas in Spain that will be most affected by this new weather pattern are the autonomous communities of Castilla y León and Aragón in the north. The storm will bring showers across most of Spain over the next few days. The rain easily turns into snow in higher areas.
On Wednesday, the areas around the Strait of Gibraltar and the Alborán Sea between Andalucia and Morocco will suffer the most from the effects of the Atlantic shower.
In the east of the Iberian Peninsula it will also rain heavily and persistently locally and because of the cold snow in higher parts.
Drop in temperatures and strong winds
Temperatures will drop in most of the country from Tuesday. The mercury will drop to 15 degrees within a short time in some places. Also, in mountainous areas and in the southeast, the mercury may even reach freezing at night. In the northern half of the country, the mercury will barely reach 15º on Tuesday. Whereas, in Asturias, Cantabria, Basque Country, or Castilla y León, the maximum temperature will be between 10 and 13ºC.
The drop in temperature is accompanied by strong wind gusts, especially around the Strait of Gibraltar and the Alborán Sea. The east coast and the Canary Islands are also experiencing strong gusts of wind.
From heat to rain
On the peninsula and on the Balearic Islands it will be cloudy and it will rain. The heaviest rainfalls, according to Aemet, will be near Castellón, Tarragona, and eastern Aragon. However, people in Murcia and Alicante also have to take showers into account.
Snow line
In the west of the plateau, Andalucia and the Canary Islands it will be variable cloudy and there may be showers. Although they will not be as severe as in other parts of the country. Furthermore, fog is expected in mountainous areas and the snow line is sliding down to 700 metres in regions such as Cantabria and up to 1,800 metres in the south of the country.
When will the beautiful weather return?
If you’re wondering this, one thing is for sure: the beautiful weather isn’t returning this week. The month of April is always changeable and ups and downs in the weather are also part of the Spanish spring.
After the temperature drop, the values barely recover in the second half of the week. The rain will stop on Thursday. That same day, however, a new Atlantic storm begins in the west. This could play the leading role in the weather pattern in the coming weekend, with rain expected again in the last part of the week.
Also read: The cold winter weather returns to Spain after feeling like summer
