The long-awaited May bank holiday of 2025 is accompanied by a rather pronounced atmospheric shift in much of the Iberian Peninsula. After several days of spring-like atmosphere, a isolated cold squall It will approach from the west, causing increased instability and breaking the relative calm of the weather that has been enjoyed in recent days.
The arrival of this low-pressure system coincides with one of the most important dates in the Spanish holiday calendar, a time when millions of people take advantage of the opportunity to travel. Unstable weather will be the trend in most of the country.This situation will not only bring precipitation and storms, but will also bring with it temperature fluctuations and bouts of wind, forcing us to reorganize plans and remember to bring an umbrella.
An isolated cold storm complicates the bridge
According to experts, The storm will remain anchored to the west of the peninsula and its cold air pocket will be directly responsible for the changeable weather starting Wednesday. The majority scenario predicts that, starting Wednesday afternoon, increased cloudiness and the appearance of showers will begin to become noticeable, especially in the southwest, such as Andalusia and Extremadura, spreading inland and east of the peninsula as the hours pass.
El Friday will be the most conflictive day, with widespread rain and intense storms expected in numerous autonomous communities. The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has issued warnings for precipitation, storms, and even possible hail in provinces such as Cádiz, Huelva, Seville, Asturias, León, Burgos, Galicia, Madrid, as well as other inland and southern regions of the Iberian Peninsula. In some areas, accumulated precipitation could reach 15 liters per square meter in just one hour.
Local authorities and the public are advised to exercise extreme caution due to the possibility of rapid accumulation of water, strong wind gusts, and problems resulting from hail, especially in mountainous areas and urban areas with poor drainage systems.
The weather, day by day by region
- North (Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, Basque Country): Occasional showers and thunderstorms, with rising temperatures on Friday and falling over the weekend. Friday will be the wettest day, especially in the afternoon.
- Castile and Leon: Strong temperature fluctuations, almost daily rain and thunderstorms, intensifying on Friday and Saturday. Warnings for significant precipitation.
- Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha and Madrid: Temperatures will rise at first, giving way to a decrease due to cloudiness. Frequent, locally intense rainfall will occur between Friday and Saturday, especially in urban areas.
- Ebro Valley (La Rioja, Navarra, Aragon): Temperatures will rise until Saturday, with highs approaching 27°C in Zaragoza. Afternoon thunderstorms are expected during the main days of the long weekend.
- Catalonia and Valencian Community: Temperatures are rising, especially on the coast and in the south of the Valencian Community, where temperatures could exceed 30°C. Localized showers were seen on Friday and Sunday, with more occasional showers on Saturday.
- Andalusia, Ceuta and Melilla: Rollercoaster temperatures, with highs dropping on Friday. Widespread thunderstorms will occur throughout the long weekend, except in the eastern part, with lesser incidence in Almería, Granada, and Jaén.
- Canary Islands: Partly cloudy skies and a risk of light rain in the western and higher-elevation islands. Mild temperatures with no significant changes.
Notices, consequences and recommendations
The persistence of instability forces official bodies to maintain yellow alerts in more than a dozen provinces. Adverse phenomena, such as heavy rain, strong winds and hail, particularly affecting the Atlantic and Cantabrian slopes, with specific recommendations to municipalities to review drainage infrastructure and avoid parking in flood-prone areas or dry riverbeds.
In cities like Seville, for example, the City Council has decided to preemptively close parks due to the risk of storms and wind gusts that could exceed 70 km/h. At home, people are advised to exercise extreme caution when traveling, keep drains clean, and only travel on roads if necessary, especially in areas with active warnings.
The bridge exit operation is complicated by these weather conditions. Traffic forecasts more than 7,5 million journeys, with heavy traffic jams at the exits from Madrid, Catalonia, the Valencian Community, and Murcia, as well as slow traffic in tourist destinations. The need to maintain traffic flow is emphasized. Take maximum caution, avoid distractions and check the status of the routes.
Therefore, the May bank holiday will be marked by a typically spring-like atmosphere, alternating between showers, thunderstorms, and periods of respite as temperatures rise and fall. It's important to pay close attention to forecast updates, as the situation can change rapidly depending on the development of the isolated cold storm approaching from the Atlantic.