He arctic air has burst into Spain with a sudden drop in temperatures, widespread frosts and snowfall. This Wednesday, a strong storm of wind and waves will be the protagonist in several communities. The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) maintains active orange and yellow warnings in different areas of the country.
Mediterranean communities are on alert due to strong gusts of wind and sea storms, with special incidence in the Balearic Islands and Catalonia, where the orange warning has been activated.
In Menorca and Mallorcathe north wind reaches 50–75 km/h (force 7–8) and the waves, initially 4 meters, will increase to 6 meters, with maximum waves that can reach 10–12 meters. Ibiza and Formentera maintain a yellow warning for winds of 50–60 km/h and strong sea conditions with waves of up to 3 meters.
Catalonia has activated the orange level in the province of Girona by winds from the north and northwest of 60–90 km/h (force 8–9) and waves of 4 to 5 meters, with peaks of up to 8 meters. In Tarragonathe warning is yellow, with gusts of 50 to 60 km/h and waves of 3 to 4 meters. In all Catalan provinces there is also a yellow warning for strong maximum wind gusts that will reach between 70/80 kilometers per hour.
Castellón (Valencian Community) and Huesca and Teruel (Aragon) are under yellow warning for gusts of 70–80 km/h, while Alicante remains alert for adverse coastal phenomena, with north and northwest winds of 50–60 km/h and waves of 3 meters.
The cold intensifies
The cold air has caused a notable temperature drop. This Wednesday Cities like Ávila, Segovia or Teruel will barely reach 7 °C, and on Thursday no peninsular capital will exceed 20 °C. Frosts will gain ground and will be especially intense in mountain areas and large inland areas. Many capitals of Castilla y León, Castilla-La Mancha and Teruel will register minimum temperatures of 0 °C or lowerwhile Madrid will be close to freezing.
The snow level will be around 800–1000 metersleaving significant accumulations in inland areas at the gates of December. Meteored anticipates that, starting Thursday, meteorological uncertainty increases. Some scenarios foresee a return of the westerly flow, while others point to a possible new release of cold air, maintaining instability and thermal ups and downs.
Looking ahead to the weekend, eltiempo.es points out that it is most likely that the anticyclonic ridge will weaken and a trough advances towards the peninsula, which could leave more significant rains in the north. If the trough were to result in a DANA, the rainfall would spread to other areas of the country.