The AEMET warns of the arrival of a powerful storm in Spain with intense and freezing rains in these areas

The storm Garoé It will arrive next week in Spain and will cause an important change in weather, according to the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet). This phenomenon, named by the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA) for its impact on the Azores, It will be the seventh major impact storm in the 2024/2025 season, after Aitor, Berenice, Caetano, Dorothea, Enol and Floriane. Garoé tIt will bring abundant rains, mainly affecting the west of the peninsula, with a special impact on western Andalusia and Extremadura, as well as intense southerly winds.

This Sunday will be clear, in general, in Spain while The Gabri storm will leave a situation of instability in the Balearic Islands, with occasional showers accompanied by storms. Besides, The approach of an Atlantic front will cause more cloudiness from west to east and there will be rainfall in the extreme northwest, more abundant in western Galicia. Meteorology has activated yellow warnings for cold, snow and waves in nine autonomous communities.

The maximum maximum temperatures will decrease in the western and northeastern thirds of the peninsula, as well as in areas of the Levant and in the central mountains. As for the minimums, an increase is expected in Galicia and Catalonia, while in the Balearic Islands and the southeast of the peninsula they will decrease. In the rest of the country there will be few changes, although in the southwestern third the frosts will continue, especially intense in large areas of the northern half, as well as in points of the Southern plateau and the Guadalquivir valley.

Warnings for cold, snow and waves

Andalusia, Aragon, Cantabria, Castilla y León, Castilla-La Mancha, Catalonia, Galicia, Madrid and Navarra are under a yellow warning due to minimum temperatures. Furthermore, CAstillero and León also have a warning for snowfall, while Galicia has a warning for waves.

Showers and storms in the Balearic Islands

In the Balearic Islands the situation will be unstable, with cloudy or overcast skies and occasional showers accompanied by storms. They are expected to be more abundant in the north of Mallorca, and may be locally persistent and possible in the form of snow on mountain peaks; They are not expected to reach the Pitiusas.

The approach of an Atlantic front on the peninsula will cause an increase in cloudiness from west to east, leaving the skies mostly covered in the western half. There will be rainfall in the northwest third, more abundant in the west of Galicia and without ruling out occasional rainfall in other parts of the extreme west. Cloudy intervals will predominate in the Canary Islands.

Where is it going to snow this Sunday?

The AEMET predicts snowfall in the mountains of the extreme northwest as well as in the northwest of the Northern plateau, with an elevation rising from 800/1,000 meters to 1,000/1,300 m, and with probable significant accumulations in the Cantabrian Sea and on the León plateau.

Major change over time

After several days of atmospheric stability, with clear skies and widespread night frosts, next week will be marked by a significant change due to the movement of the European anticyclone. This will allow the arrival of the Garoé storm, which will induce mild and humid southwestern winds.

Widespread rainfall is expected, which will be more abundant in the southwestern quadrant of the peninsula, with accumulations greater than 100-150 liters per square meter between Monday the 20th and Wednesday the 22nd in areas such as the southern slopes of Sierra Morena and the western central system. These rains will begin on Monday, spreading to the rest of the peninsula, although weaker in the Cantabrian Sea and the eastern coast.

Monday will also bring snowfall in the mountains of the northern third, the northern plateau and the central system. In addition, freezing rains cannot be ruled out on the northern plateau, a dangerous phenomenon that occurs when liquid droplets freeze upon contact with cold surfaces, forming ice sheets that represent a risk for road traffic.

The south wind will intensify during the week, with strong intervals on the Atlantic and Cantabrian slopes and possible very strong gusts in coastal and mountain areas. As for the Canary Islands, Garoé is expected to affect them from Tuesday, with widespread rains on all the islands on Wednesday. Rainfall will continue on the 23rd, although with less intensity in the southwestern quadrant of the peninsula, where it will begin to subside, while it is likely that it will persist in the northern half.