In many parts of Spain, the last week of the year will bring a significant change in the weather . The stable, anticyclonic conditions that have graced us during the Christmas holidays will give way to a period of instability as new Atlantic fronts, fueled by a river of subtropical air, make their presence felt.
In this article we are going to tell you how the great change in weather that is coming to us at the end of the year will affect Spain.
big time change
The first showers will arrive in Galicia on Wednesday and will intensify as more active fronts move in. As we approach New Year's Eve weekend, the uncertainty increases, but it appears we will also experience a surge of frigid polar air. Despite morning and evening fog, the sky will remain partly cloudy or clear throughout the day on December 26th.
According to the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet), the forecast for the coming days indicates that fog and frost will be prevalent in the northern plateau and inland regions of the Iberian Peninsula. This will particularly affect Aragon, Castile and León, Castile-La Mancha, Catalonia, and Extremadura, where a yellow alert is in place for minimum temperatures as low as -6°C. In addition, Galicia will experience periods of strong winds along its coast.
Fog will persist locally in areas such as Ávila, Burgos, León, Palencia, Salamanca, Segovia, Soria, Valladolid, Zamora, Huesca, Badajoz, Cáceres, Madrid and Lleida. Limited visibility of only 200 meters can be expected in the western part of the southern plateau and areas of the Ebro basin, including Badajoz and Cáceres. In addition, the provinces of Teruel, Zaragoza, Cantabria, Orense, Segovia, Soria, Palencia, León, Burgos, Valencia and Zamora will be at risk due to minimum temperatures that will reach -6º.
Frosts for the end of the year
These extremely low temperatures will cause frost across much of the interior of the Iberian Peninsula. Cloud cover is expected to increase in Galicia as an Atlantic front approaches, making precipitation possible in the western part of the region towards the end of the day. There is also a chance of some precipitation in the eastern part, although it cannot be completely ruled out. The Canary Islands may experience periods of cloudiness, especially on the higher islands, with a possibility of light haze affecting the entire archipelago.
Maximum temperatures will decrease in the northern quadrant of the Iberian Peninsula and the southwest, while the rest of the country will see little change. Minimum temperatures, on the other hand, will rise in northwestern Galicia. Wednesday will begin with fog and frost inland. As the front associated with an Atlantic low-pressure system moves in, rain will reach the northwest of the peninsula, with persistent precipitation in the west and lighter precipitation in Asturias and Castile and León towards the end of the day.
The presence of a subtropical atmospheric river originating in the Atlantic will intensify these precipitation events, similar to those observed in air mass situations . The rest of the country will experience stable weather conditions with predominantly high cloud cover.
On Tuesday, the cities of Zamora and Valladolid will experience maximum temperatures ranging between 2 and 3 degrees Celsius. However, on Wednesday these temperatures could climb to 10 degrees. Furthermore, the persistent fog may dissipate, allowing for higher maximum temperatures in certain areas of the Ebro Depression, especially around Lleida. Along the Mediterranean coast, temperatures will hover around 18 to 20 degrees Celsius at midday.
As we approach Thursday, the front will lose strength as it moves inland, causing precipitation in Galicia, Asturias and Castilla y León. A slight increase in temperatures is expected, which will cause localized and less intense frosts compared to previous days.
The upward trend in temperatures will continue on Friday, especially at night. Light frosts are possible in certain areas of the northern plateau and central region. Daytime temperatures will decrease throughout the Mediterranean. Rain is expected in Galicia, Asturias, and Castile and León, with a chance of precipitation in the far north . Snowfall is expected in the Pyrenees and the Cantabrian Mountains at altitudes above 2.600 meters.
Great change in weather due to an outbreak of polar air
Looking ahead to the weekend, the forecast suggests the arrival of a polar air mass that will bring colder temperatures and snowfall. On Saturday, a new front will bring rain and snow to the Cantabrian Mountains, the upper Ebro Valley, and the Pyrenees. Temperatures will drop in most areas, except for eastern Spain, the Balearic Islands, and the Canary Islands. Rain is expected in eastern Cantabria and snow in the Pyrenees on New Year's Eve, gradually easing by morning. The atmosphere will be even colder than on Saturday, leading to a general drop in temperatures.
According to AEMET (the Spanish State Meteorological Agency), uncertainty will increase significantly on New Year's Day, Monday, January 1st. Two distinct scenarios are expected. The first scenario involves predominantly stable, anticyclonic weather with minimal rainfall. The second scenario entails the potential arrival of a new frontal system in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, which could move inland throughout the day, bringing rain, especially to the western regions and Cantabrian communities. Furthermore, temperatures are expected to rise significantly due to light winds blowing from the west and southwest.
While this might not seem like good news regarding the weather, Spain needs rain to cope with the drought. Andalusia, in particular, is experiencing the most severe drought. This rainfall and the resulting lower temperatures are necessary to mitigate the effects of global warming on a more local scale.
