The balance sheet of the State Meteorological Office (AEMET) shows the persistent frosts mainly in the Pyrenees, although they are also registered in other mountain systems of the country, albeit with less frequency and intensity. This phenomenon is part of a meteorological episode that, according to AEMET, led to the activation of snow, wind and wave warnings in 16 Spanish provinces and in the autonomous city of Melilla, along with a significant drop in temperature and a series of undesirable phenomena that spread over large parts of the territory.
According to the information published by the AEMET, the Tramuntana regime, which is particularly active in the Empordà in the first hours of the day, causes gusts of wind whose intensity tends to decrease as the day progresses. The alert panorama includes an orange warning in force in A Coruña, due to the strong wave conditions affecting both the Galician coast and the northern strip of western Cantabria. This risk due to serious changes in the sea is also reflected in the activation of yellow warnings in numerous coastal points and in island areas such as Almería, Granada, the entire coast of Asturias, the Balearic Islands – including Mallorca, Ibiza and Formentera -, Cantabria, Girona, Tarragona, Lugo, Pontevedra, Guipúzcoa, Vizcaya and Melilla, the state authority announced.
Intense and abundant rainfall prevails in the northern third of the peninsula, with particular impact on western Galicia and the eastern part of the Cantabrian slope. In these areas, the AEMET indicates that the rainfall takes on a persistent character, while in other peninsular regions the rain episodes are less noticeable and occur occasionally. For the Balearic Islands, other areas of the continental Mediterranean and the Pityuses, the official forecast for this day does not call for rain, according to the weather agency.
Snow accumulation is another key aspect of the weather forecast. According to the AEMET, the north of the peninsula – and in particular the Pyrenees – exceeded the usual accumulation levels of the time, with snow depths between 1,000 and 1,200 meters in the north and between 1,300 and 1,600 meters in other areas. Navarre remains vigilant due to the risk of snowfall, a situation that also affects some areas in the center and southeast, although the frequency of snowfall remains significantly lower outside the Pyrenees area. The organization points out that despite differences in intensity and extent, several Spanish regions are still affected by snowfall.
Wind plays a prominent role in the AEMET analysis. Provinces such as Almería, Granada, Tarragona, Alicante, Castellón, Valencia and the Balearic Islands – especially Mallorca – are experiencing gusts of considerable magnitude. This behavior is repeated in different areas of the peninsula under the influence of westerly winds, while in the northwest and on the Cantabrian slope there are south and southwest winds of medium intensity. The forecast indicates that strong winds with increasing weakening are expected in the Balearic Sea, the Sierra de Tramontana, the Eastern Third and the Alboran Sea at the beginning of the day. However, the gusts in the north of Galicia and in the western Cantabria region increase in intensity as the day progresses.
Thermometers show a significant decrease in minimum temperatures in several areas, although AEMET reports a general increase in maximum temperatures across the peninsula. This increase is more pronounced in certain parts of the Cantabrian Sea. Stable thermal values without significant changes are expected in the Balearic and Canary Islands. Girona appears in this update as one of the coldest points with a predicted minimum temperature of 2°C.
Visibility will be affected by fog and fog banks, particularly concentrated in Galicia, in the higher sectors and around the southern plateau. According to AEMET, these weather conditions make blood circulation difficult even in the early hours of the morning and pose additional difficulties for those carrying out outdoor activities.
In the Canary Islands, the AEMET reports that in the areas with the greatest relief there are persistent cloudy periods where light rainfall is not excluded. The eastern islands, on the other hand, are recording less cloudiness, although the trend suggests an increase in medium and high clouds in the afternoon. The light haze phenomenon could affect the atmosphere while the trade winds blow with moderate intensity.
The report published by AEMET highlights that the combination of snow, wind, waves and low temperatures significantly increases the risk level in different regions of the country, both in the peninsular areas and in Melilla and both archipelagos. The special warnings remain in force and in accordance with the recommendation of the Meteorological Agency, due to the meteorological restrictions and obstacles affecting a large part of the national map, it is advisable to take extreme precautions when traveling and carrying out outdoor activities.
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