The start of Holy Week will arrive with a marked winter weather in much of northern SpainThe combination of cold air, humidity and wind has led meteorological services to activate a yellow alert for snow, especially in the interior of the Basque Country and in the Navarrese Pyrenees, with modest but sufficient accumulations expected to complicate traffic in some mountain sections.
The forecasts from Aemet and Euskalmet speak of a significant drop in temperatures and snow levelThe storm will move to an altitude of around 700-800 meters during the peak hours, bringing frequent showers and northerly winds. Yellow alerts are also in place for coastal phenomena and strong gusts of wind, all of which paint a picture of a rather eventful start to the holidays in the Cantabrian region and the Pyrenees.
Bizkaia: Yellow alert for snow and almost wintry conditions
In the interior of Bizkaia, Euskalmet has activated a Yellow alert for snow on SundayThis coincided with Palm Sunday. The arrival of a mass of cold air has caused a sudden change in the weather, with significantly lower temperatures and the possibility of seeing the first snowflakes of the year in higher elevations.
The snow level will be around 700-800 meters in the early hours of the dayThis opens the door to snowfall in the mountainous areas of inland Biscay. As the day progresses, and especially in the afternoon, the snow level will tend to rise to around 900-1.000 meters, so the snow will be restricted to the highest peaks.
In terms of quantity, the models point to thicknesses of between 1 and 5 centimeters at about 1.000 meters altitudeIt's not a major snowstorm, but it is a situation capable of leaving roads covered in white snow in mountain passes (see the DGT map of closed roads) and to cause some specific complications for those who travel at the start of the holidays.
Sunday's weather is expected to be "almost wintry," with Frequent showers during the first half of the day which will gradually weaken in the afternoon. In Bilbao, maximum temperatures will remain around 11 degrees, well below the usual for this time of year, and the humid atmosphere will reinforce the feeling of cold.
It has been noticeable since Friday clear worsening of the weather in the territoryWith moderate temperatures and intermittent rain. For today, Saturday, the forecast indicates highs that will hardly exceed 12 degrees in the capital of Biscay, with rain spread throughout the day and mostly cloudy skies.
Storm extends to the rest of the Basque Country
The episode of instability is not limited to Bizkaia. The interior of Gipuzkoa and Álava will also be affected due to the entry of cold air and precipitation, with a very similar outlook in terms of thermal sensations and weather type.
The Basque Autonomous Community as a whole is expected A Sunday dominated by showers and low temperaturesThe snow level will start around 700-800 meters in the early morning and will gradually rise to around 900-1.000 meters by the end of the day. Showers will be light, occasionally moderate, and will tend to subside from the late afternoon/evening onwards.
The Basque Government's Directorate of Emergency Response and Meteorology maintains The yellow warning for risk of snow below 1.000 meters for Sunday between midnight and 18:00 PM. No major accumulations are expected at mid-elevations, but there will be enough snow to blanket the landscape in the high valleys and mountain passes.
In addition to snow, north and northwest winds will be a major factor. Exposed areas may experience heavy rainfall. significant gusts, which will reinforce the feeling of cold and will contribute to maintaining the unpleasant atmosphere for much of the weekend.
Coastal phenomena: rough seas and difficult navigation
The instability will also extend to the sea. Euskalmet and the Basque emergency services have activated a Yellow alert for coastal maritime hazard for navigation, associated with waves that can reach 3-3,5 meters in significant wave height on the Cantabrian coast (as an example of the virulence of storms in the northwest, see the Red alert in Galicia due to storm).
The northwest swell, around 2-2,5 metersThis will combine with a northerly wind blowing at force 5 with periods of force 6 on the Beaufort scale. This will result in a heavy swell with areas of rough seas, a condition that may complicate the departure of small craft and require extreme caution in ports and along seafronts.
At the same time, a Additional yellow alert for coastal phenomena The Basque Meteorological Agency has issued a warning, indicating that waves could reach up to 4 meters at times during the event. While no exceptional storm is expected, the conditions are considered sufficient to warrant caution and advise against getting too close to surf zones.
Navarrese Pyrenees: yellow warning for snow and strong winds
The other area where the yellow snow warning is especially relevant is the Navarrese PyreneesThe State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has activated this warning due to expected accumulations of around 5 centimeters of snow in 24 hours, mainly linked to the time period from Saturday night to Sunday night.
The snow warning will come into effect at It will begin at 21:00 PM on Saturday and will continue until 21:00 PM on Sunday.During this period, the greatest accumulations are expected to occur at elevations above 800 meters, although the bulk of the snow will be concentrated above 900-1.000 meters, where the thickness may exceed 5 centimeters in specific areas.
Besides the snow, the weekend will be marked by a cold environment, abundant cloud cover and light precipitation Fog is expected across much of Navarre, more persistent in the northern half. Fog is possible in higher elevations, especially in the Pyrenees and other mountains in the north of the region, which could reduce visibility on high roads.
The forecast details that the Navarrese Pyrenees are located in Yellow alert for snow accumulation in 24 hourswith the 5-centimeter threshold as the main reference point. The situation is considered low danger, but sufficient to advise caution while driving and during outdoor activities in the mountains, as the [reference point] reminds us. Avalanche alert in the Pyrenees.
Navarre: widespread cold, wind and snow at higher elevations
For the whole of Navarre, the storm will translate into a A weekend with a wintry feel, with north winds and very cloudy skiesPrecipitation will generally be light, more frequent in the northern half, and will tend to turn into snow in the mountains at the end of each day.
This Thursday marks a day of transition towards that scenario, with Cloudy skies with some clear patches in the southEspecially in the Ribera region, while in the north a more overcast atmosphere will prevail. During the afternoon, rain will be concentrated in mountainous areas of the northern half and may fall as snow above 900-1.000 meters.
Temperatures will remain moderate: in Pamplona, an approximate range of 3 to 10 degreesIn Estella-Lizarra, temperatures will range between 4 and 10 degrees Celsius, in the Roncal Valley between 0 and 7, and in Tudela between 6 and 12 degrees. These figures, combined with north and northwest winds, will reinforce the feeling of cold outdoors.
The wind will be a factor to consider throughout the episode. Much of the Navarre region will be under a yellow alert for strong gusts of wind. On Sunday, winds of up to 80 km/h are expected in the Pyrenees and around 70 km/h in the central and Ribera regions, where the north wind will be felt intensely, especially in the eastern sector.
In the following days, the continuation of light frosts in the Pyrenees Fog is expected in higher elevations in the north, while the north wind will continue to blow in the Ebro Valley. The snow level will generally fluctuate between 900 and 1.000 meters, with possible occasional drops during periods of heaviest precipitation.
Outlook for the start of Holy Week in the north
Looking at the whole of northern Spain, forecasts point to a Holy Week begins dominated by bad weatherIn the Cantabrian region, the remnants of cold fronts are expected to continue bringing light to moderate precipitation, while in the northern mountain areas, both in the Cantabrian Mountains and the Pyrenees, it is possible that this rain will turn to snow above 1.000 meters in the last hours of the day.
Regarding short-term developments, No substantial improvement is expected, at least until Thursday.Aemet reports indicate persistent unsettled weather, with abundant rainfall and maximum temperatures around 14 degrees in many northern areas, still far from a stable spring-like environment (see also the Snow alert in Catalonia).
This context will force adapt plans and travelThis applies both to those traveling by road to mountain destinations and those planning outdoor activities near the coast. The combination of snow at relatively low elevations, strong winds, and rough seas makes it advisable to check daily weather advisories.
In summary, northern Spain faces the first days of Holy Week under a typically wintry scenario: Yellow warning for snow in the interior of the Basque Country and the Navarrese Pyrenees, strong winds and rough seasWith mild temperatures and overcast skies, the start of the holidays has been marked more by umbrellas, coats, and caution on the road than by stable weather and high temperatures.
