Just as Storm Nils appeared set to draw a line under weeks of relentless low-pressure systems across Spain, a new and potentially severe storm has been named. Oriana will bring very strong to hurricane-force gusts, heavy rainfall and a sharp drop in temperatures from Friday into Saturday.
Spain Press Editorial Team
Spain’s state meteorological agency, Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (Aemet), has warned of a high-impact episode. Red weather alerts for extreme wind have been issued in parts of Cantabria, Galicia and the Basque Country, while orange warnings are in force in Andalusia, the Balearic Islands, Catalonia, the Region of Murcia and the Valencian Community..
Friday: active front followed by Arctic air
Friday will mark a transitional phase. An active weather front is expected to bring widespread rain, particularly heavy in Galicia, along the Cantabrian coast, across central and southern Spain and in the north-east.
Behind the front, a mass of Arctic air will sweep in from the north, triggering a pronounced and widespread fall in temperatures. By early Saturday, snow could fall at 600 to 700 metres across broad areas of northern Spain.
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Snow levels, which have remained relatively high in recent days, will drop rapidly to between 800 and 1,000 metres in the north.
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1,000 to 1,200 metres elsewhere.
By early Saturday, snow could fall at 600 to 700 metres across broad areas of northern Spain.
Saturday: severe winds and a return to full winter conditions
By Saturday, the Azores High will begin to assert greater influence, but a tight pressure gradient will continue to generate strong northerly and north-westerly winds. Gusts of 70 to 100 km/h are expected in many regions, particularly in northern and eastern Spain and the Balearics, significantly lowering the perceived temperature.
In exposed areas of the Pyrenees and the Iberian System, especially in the provinces of Castellón and Teruel, gusts could reach 120 to 140 km/h. Winds above 80 km/h are also forecast in cities including Zaragoza, Lleida, Huesca, Soria, Segovia, Ávila, Cuenca, Albacete and Murcia. Along parts of the Mediterranean coast, such as Tortosa, Sant Carles de la Ràpita and Vinaroz, gusts may approach or exceed 90 km/h.
Heavy snowfall is expected in the Cantabrian Mountains, the Picos de Europa and the Pyrenees, with significant accumulations likely at higher elevations. Snow showers cannot be ruled out at lower levels in the north-west during the coldest hours, particularly if precipitation coincides with the sharp thermal drop. Blizzard conditions are possible in mountainous areas.
Widespread frost
Overnight from Saturday into Sunday, frost will become more widespread across inland areas, especially in the northern half of the country, the eastern Meseta and parts of Castilla-La Mancha. Severe frosts are forecast in the Pyrenees.
Gradual Improvement Sunday
By Sunday, as a ridge linked to the Azores High extends over the Iberian Peninsula, high pressure will gradually dominate. Skies are expected to clear across most of Spain, although some cloud and residual showers may persist in the far north.
Winds will ease in low-lying areas overnight into Sunday, though strong gusts may continue in mountainous regions of the Pyrenees and the Iberian System until at least Sunday afternoon.
The Arctic outbreak is expected to be brief but intense. Daytime temperatures should begin to recover early next week, with more stable and settled conditions likely to take hold across much of the country. After weeks of successive Atlantic systems, Oriana may prove — at least temporarily — to be the final major storm in this prolonged winter sequence.
