Over the next few days, a significant change is expected in the weather situation in Spain., with a sharp drop in temperatures due to the entry of a continental polar air mass. Although this episode has been linked in the media with the popular 'Beast from the East', experts have clarified that it is not the extreme phenomenon that devastated Europe in 2018.
The 'Beast from the East' is a term widely used in British media to describe extreme cold snaps from Siberia, often bringing with them freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall. The 2018 cold snap was a significant example, hitting Europe with extremely low temperatures and record snowfall. However, according to the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), The climatic event expected in Spain this week does not have these characteristics.
What we can expect this week
The stable weather that has prevailed in recent days will give way to a marked drop in temperatures. Starting on Friday, the atmospheric configuration will combine an anticyclone located between Scandinavia and Russia with low pressure in the Mediterranean. This will cause the arrival of a cold air mass that will will cause temperatures to drop to unusually low values for this time of year.
The most striking minimums will be recorded in inland areas of the peninsula, especially on the northern plateau and mountainous areas, reaching values below -5 ºC. Frost will be widespread over the weekend, even affecting regions where negative temperatures are not usually so severe. To better understand these dynamics, you can consult the role of the scandinavian lock in the atmospheric configuration that favors these cold episodes.
Snowfall at low altitudes
In addition to the intense cold, the AEMET has highlighted the possibility of snowfall at low altitudes in the northern third. These precipitations will be more likely in areas such as the Cantabrian Mountains and the Pyrenees, with snow from 500 to 700 metersLight snowfall is also possible in the Iberian System and in the interior of Castile and Leon, although uncertainty remains regarding the specific areas most affected.
However, despite the winter conditions, the episode is not classified as a cold wave, as current forecasts indicate that will not reach the required duration and intensity under established technical criteria. In particular, for a phenomenon to be considered a cold wave, it must last at least three consecutive days and affect at least 10% of meteorological stations with significant temperature anomalies. More information on this phenomenon can be found in our article on Cold wave in Spain and extreme temperatures.
The role of atmospheric configuration
The key to this meteorological change lies in the so-called 'Scandinavian blocking'. This phenomenon occurs when an anticyclone is situated in northern Europe, stabilising the atmosphere in that region and allowing cold air masses to advance southwards. In this case, the anticyclone establishes a corridor that channels polar air towards the peninsula., intensifying the temperature drop. To learn more about how this pattern affects you, you can visit our article dedicated to .
The AEMET (Mediterranean Meteorological Agency) has also reported the possibility of cyclogenesis in the Mediterranean over the weekend. This phenomenon could increase atmospheric instability, generating localized rain and snowfall, especially in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and parts of the eastern Iberian Peninsula. All of this will combine with very low temperatures both day and night, which could affect several regions to varying degrees.
Regional forecast
The cities most affected by the cold will include Burgos, Valladolid, Segovia, Avila, Madrid and Soria, where maximum temperatures will barely exceed 5 ºC. In the Pyrenees, snowfall could accumulate to significant thicknesses, especially in the eastern sector, while in areas of the southeast the snow level will remain higher, between 1200 and 1500 metres.
In contrast, regions such as Andalusia and the Mediterranean coast will experience milder weather, with highs potentially reaching 20°C in cities such as Malaga, Seville, and Alicante. However, nighttime lows will remain noticeably cold, particularly in inland areas and moorlands. To understand how the interaction of these factors affects different areas, you may also want to consult our analysis of atmospheric phenomena. extreme weather events.
Not everything will be extreme cold
Despite the media headline, experts insist that This episode should not be overly alarming.Although the cold will be noticeable, no severe impacts are expected in most areas. In addition, weather models still show some uncertainty regarding the evolution of the phenomenon, so forecasts could be adjusted in the coming days.
With this influx of polar air, the most significant episode of winter will probably begin, but it will not be so extreme as to be described as a classic 'Beast from the East'. This event will serve as a reminder of how atmospheric configurations can generate intense winter episodes over Europe and Spain.
