After days of extreme heat, Spain is heading for a significant change in the weather. A cooler air mass will send temperatures falling across much of the country from Thursday, with drops of up to 10°C in just 24 hours in some areas. AEMET is also warning of severe thunderstorms, torrential rain and powerful wind gusts.
Spain Expat Press Editorial Team
From extreme summer heat to considerably cooler conditions in a matter of hours: Spain is preparing for a sharp change in the weather from Thursday.
According to Spain’s state meteorological agency AEMET, a trough will move rapidly across the Iberian Peninsula, accompanied by an influx of significantly cooler polar air.
The result will be a widespread fall in temperatures, with the most dramatic changes expected across northern and south-eastern Spain. In some areas, daytime highs could drop by between 6°C and 10°C in just 24 hours.
After the exceptionally high temperatures of recent days, the difference is likely to be immediately noticeable.
Seville: from 39°C to around 31°C
Andalusia will also feel the change.
The temperature drop is expected to be particularly noticeable in Seville, where highs of around 39°C on Wednesday could fall to approximately 31°C on Thursday – a difference of around eight degrees in a single day.
In Granada, maximum temperatures are forecast to fall from 36°C to around 30°C, while Jaén could drop from 35°C to 31°C. In Córdoba, temperatures are expected to fall from around 35°C to 32°C.
After weeks of intense summer heat, the cooler conditions will provide at least temporary relief across much of the region.
Temperatures could fall by 10°C in northern Spain
The change will be even more pronounced in parts of northern Spain.
In León, temperatures are expected to fall from around 33°C on Wednesday to just 23°C on Thursday – a drop of ten degrees within 24 hours.
Burgos could fall from 35°C to around 26°C.
The difference will also be striking in Galicia. In Lugo, Wednesday’s 30°C could be followed by a maximum of just 22°C on Thursday.
Temperatures will also fall across the Basque Country, with Vitoria-Gasteiz expected to see highs drop from around 30°C to approximately 25°C.
Sharp fall across the Ebro Valley
The Ebro Valley will also experience a substantial change.
In Logroño, maximum temperatures could fall from 38°C to around 31°C, while Pamplona is expected to drop from 34°C to approximately 28°C.
One of the most striking changes is forecast for Zaragoza.
After temperatures of around 43°C on Wednesday, the city is expected to reach approximately 37°C on Thursday before falling further to around 32°C on Friday.
That would represent a drop of roughly 11 degrees in just two days.
Murcia and Albacete also cool down
The south-east of the peninsula will not escape the change.
In Murcia, temperatures could fall from around 42°C to 37°C, while Albacete is expected to drop from approximately 37°C to 32°C.
However, the arrival of cooler air will not necessarily mean calmer weather.
Quite the opposite.
AEMET warns of severe thunderstorms
As cooler air moves in, atmospheric instability will increase.
AEMET expects thunderstorms particularly across north-eastern Spain, with the Pyrenees among the areas most likely to experience locally heavy rainfall.
The storms could cause flash flooding, particularly in valleys, streams and other vulnerable areas.
Conditions could become particularly severe in the south-east, where strong thunderstorms, very powerful wind gusts and downbursts are possible.
A downburst occurs when a powerful current of air descends rapidly from a thunderstorm and spreads out after hitting the ground, potentially producing damaging winds.
The unsettled weather could also extend to the Balearic Islands.
Unsettled conditions could continue into next week
Thursday’s change is unlikely to be a brief interruption.
According to AEMET, a broad trough is expected to become established to the west of the Iberian Peninsula over the weekend, while a slow-moving weather front will contribute to further atmospheric instability.
Northern and north-eastern Spain are expected to be particularly affected.
In the far north, locally heavy and persistent rainfall could continue until Monday, 24 August.
Temperatures across much of Spain are meanwhile expected to fall temporarily to slightly below the seasonal average.
After days in which thermometers have exceeded 40°C in several parts of the country, Spain is therefore preparing for a very different weather pattern:
significantly cooler temperatures, but an increased risk of severe thunderstorms, heavy rain and powerful wind gusts.
