Spain is set to experience a striking weather contrast this week. While the south of the country braces for summer-like temperatures of up to 38°C, a cold air front moving in from Northern Europe is bringing significantly cooler conditions to the north of the Iberian Peninsula. Meteorologists are describing the situation as an unusually pronounced weather divide between the north and south of the country.
Spain Expat Press Editorial Team
by Marlon Gallego Bosbach
Heat in Andalusia reaches its peak
Temperatures across Andalusia are set to continue rising over the coming days. The heat is being driven by a persistent flow of warm air from North Africa, which remains firmly established over southern Spain. The Guadalquivir Valley, west of Córdoba, is expected to be particularly affected, with temperatures forecast to reach as high as 38°C. A combination of intense sunshine, dry air and light winds is pushing temperatures well above the seasonal average for early June.
Summer-like peak temperatures are also expected in Seville, Córdoba, as well as parts of Extremadura and Murcia. For many regions, the week is therefore starting significantly hotter than is normally typical for this time of year.
Polar air reaches northern Spain
While the south swelters, a completely different weather pattern is emerging in the north. Between Tuesday and Thursday, a mass of polar air originating from Northern Europe will move into Spain. This will displace the warm air across the northern regions of the country, leading to a marked drop in temperatures.
The effects will be particularly noticeable along the Cantabrian coast and in the regions around the Pyrenees. Cities such as Bilbao, Santander and Oviedo will have to prepare for significantly cooler conditions. Daytime highs there could temporarily drop to around 20°C or even below.
Temperature drop of up to twelve degrees
Meteorologists are forecasting a regional drop in temperatures of around 10 to 12 degrees within just a few days. While such variations are not unusual from a meteorological perspective, they rarely occur so distinctly within the space of a single week.
The cause lies in the direct confrontation of two very different air masses: on one side, hot subtropical air from North Africa, and on the other, cold air from the northern latitudes of Europe. This setup is currently creating a sharp weather boundary over Spain.
More cloud cover and local showers in the north
With the incoming cold air, atmospheric instability is also increasing. Experts expect more cloud cover, as well as isolated showers across the northern regions. While no significant rainfall totals are currently forecast, local thunderstorms may develop, particularly in mountainous areas and around the Pyrenees.
The weather situation is reminiscent of similar incursions of cold air in past years, when polar air masses briefly brought about an abrupt shift from summer-like weather to significantly cooler conditions.
No lasting cooldown in sight
According to weather services, however, this is not expected to be a sustained change in the weather pattern. The polar air is likely to have only a temporary impact on conditions. By the end of the week, temperatures could stabilise again and rise once more in many areas.
In southern Spain, the heat is expected to persist largely unaffected. Summery conditions are likely to remain in place there, even during the brief period of cooling in the north.
Spain between high summer and spring
The current weather situation clearly highlights Spain’s climatic diversity. While holidaymakers on the Costa del Sol and in Andalusia are already experiencing high summer-like conditions, temperatures in the north in many areas feel more like spring. The contrast could hardly be greater in the coming days – once again making Spain a country that seems to host several seasons at once.
