Spain remains locked in unsettled weather. After several consecutive low-pressure systems, a new disturbance is set to reach the Iberian Peninsula in the coming hours. A pronounced upper-level trough, linked to a depression south of Ireland, will once again bring widespread rainfall, with particularly heavy accumulations expected in some regions.
The first showers are forecast to arrive in the western half of the country early in the morning. As the day progresses, rain will spread across much of Spain, reinforcing an already unstable weather pattern.
Spain Press Editorial Team
Areas expecting the heaviest rainfall
According to current forecasts, only a limited number of regions are likely to remain largely unaffected. These include Almería, the south of the Valencian Community, the Region of Murcia, the Balearic Islands and Girona.
Elsewhere, rainfall will be widespread and at times persistent. The most affected areas are Galicia, the Cantabrian coast, Navarra, Castile and León, Castile-La Mancha, the Community of Madrid, Extremadura, Andalusia, La Rioja and northern Aragon. In many of these regions, totals exceeding 20 litres per square metre are expected.
Localised totals above 50 litres per square metre
Meteorological models indicate that the highest rainfall accumulations will be recorded along the western Galician coast, in the Pyrenees and across the Central System. In the lee of several mountain ranges, rainfall totals may exceed 50 litres per square metre. As a result, weather warnings for persistent and intense rainfall have already been issued in several areas.
Rain shifting eastwards through the day
During the afternoon, rain bands will move across Madrid before advancing towards eastern Spain. In these areas, rainfall will become more scattered and generally weaker. Meanwhile, parts of western Spain will see a temporary easing of conditions, with one notable exception: Galicia, where rain is expected to continue.
By evening and into the night, the focus of the rainfall will shift towards Aragon and Catalonia, where additional totals of between 5 and 15 litres per square metre are forecast. Elsewhere along the Mediterranean coast, conditions are expected to improve.
Warnings over snowmelt
The changing weather pattern will also bring a rise in the snowline, increasing the risk of snowmelt at mid-altitudes. Spain’s national weather agency, Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET), has activated yellow warnings for potential meltwater-related issues. Affected areas include parts of the Central System in Salamanca, Ávila and Segovia, the Sanabria region and sections of the Cantabrian Mountains in the province of León.
Outlook
Meteorologists warn that the first half of February is likely to remain dominated by frequent rainfall. A sustained period of settled weather is not currently in sight.
