Britons currently residing in Spain are bracing for extreme wintry conditions this week as an unusual Arctic blast sweeps through the country, expected to bring up to 25cm of snow to northern regions.
Meteorologists have issued a series of fresh weather alerts covering numerous areas popular with tourists, warning of a “significant risk” of disruptions for both travelers and locals.
The most significant snowfall is anticipated in proximity to Santander, Bilbao, and the Cantabrian Mountains, where up to 25cm (10 inches) of snowfall could accumulate within a day. Elevated areas starting from around 900 meters are already witnessing snow accumulation, with the freezing level expected to drop to 700 meters by the day’s end, particularly in the northern regions.
Regions inland from Santander are on high alert for approximately 20cm of snow, while various well-known areas in and around Navarre and northern La Rioja are preparing for up to 10cm of snowfall. Even the typically milder inland area near San Sebastián is forecasted to receive around 5cm of snow as cold air penetrates deeper along the northern coast.
The wintry conditions are not limited to the northern regions, with reports of snow reaching further south, including areas around the Burgos Plateau, the La Rioja wine region, inland Zaragoza province, and elevated parts of the Castellón region north of Valencia.
In addition to the snow risks, forecasters have also issued warnings for rain, wind, and storms in Mallorca, where strong gusts and heavy showers are expected throughout the day. Most weather alerts are in effect until 6pm today.
Temperatures in major Spanish cities are notably cold, with Zaragoza and Madrid barely reaching 5C today, while Bilbao anticipates 7C with rain. Coastal favorites like Valencia, Seville, and Málaga are slightly warmer at around 10–11C with some sunny intervals, and Barcelona is set to experience 8C temperatures.
Spain attracts around 18 million British visitors annually, making it the top holiday destination for UK citizens. Previous warnings were issued to British travelers regarding severe weather conditions and potential travel disruptions in Murcia, southeastern Spain, and Valencia along the eastern Mediterranean coast.
These developments follow freezing temperatures in the UK, where readings dropped as low as minus 11C overnight, with the coldest recorded temperature at Loch Glascarnoch in the Scottish Highlands, and temperatures falling below minus 7C across various parts of the country.
Slightly milder temperatures were observed in England and Wales, with lows of minus 6C in Trawsgoed, Ceredigion, Wales, and minus 4C in Rostherne, Cheshire.
Forecaster Simon Partridge attributed the chill to a “little ridge of high pressure moving across the UK overnight,” noting that the lighter winds made it notably colder compared to previous nights.