article_detail

After a week of sunshine, rising temperatures and the much-anticipated solar eclipse, Spain's weather is about to take a turn. While the likes of Murcia and Alicante experienced intense if brief storms, the week so far has been largely settled.

 

A new trough of low pressure and a mass of cooler air will move across the country from Friday, bringing a more unsettled weekend with storms, showers and a noticeable drop in temperatures in many areas.

 

 

The change will begin to make itself felt on Thursday August 13, with the weather becoming increasingly unstable before the main system arrives.

 

During the afternoon, clouds are expected to build across much of the eastern third of the country, particularly around the main mountain ranges.

 

The weather will become more unsettled from Friday August 14, when showers and thunderstorms are forecast across much of the northern and eastern half of Spain.

 

 

While the Cantabrian area could see some light rain, the strongest storms are expected further east, particularly in northern Aragón and inland areas of the Valencian Community.

 

The unsettled weather will continue through the weekend, with Saturday August 15 expected to be the more active of the two days.

 

Some of the heaviest rainfall and storms could affect northern Catalonia and Aragón, with storms potentially becoming intense in some areas.

 

 

On Sunday August 16, the main areas at risk of showers and thunderstorms will shift towards Aragón, Catalonia, eastern Castilla y León and northeastern Castilla-La Mancha.

 

The good news for anyone struggling with the summer heat is that the storms will arrive alongside a mass of cooler air from the north.

 

 

Temperatures will begin to fall on Friday, particularly across northern Spain, although cooler conditions will also spread into parts of the Atlantic side of the country and the eastern interior.

 

Friday will still be hot in many areas, with temperatures above 35-37C across large parts of inland Spain and the Balearic Islands.

 

Some areas will remain exceptionally hot, with temperatures reaching 40C in parts of the Guadalquivir Valley and occasionally in the Ebro and Guadiana valleys.

 

The biggest change is expected on Saturday, when temperatures will fall across much of the country.

 

 

In parts of the Cantabrian coast, the Pyrenees and the northern Iberian System, temperatures could drop by 6-8C.

 

Despite the overall cooler conditions, temperatures of 35-37C or higher will still be possible in parts of southern and eastern Spain.

 

This includes Extremadura, Madrid, western Castilla-La Mancha, Andalucia and the Region of Murcia, as well as inland areas of Catalonia, Mallorca, the interior of the Valencian Community and the middle Ebro valley.

 

Sunday is expected to bring another drop in temperatures in most areas, with the exception of northwestern Spain.

 

That would make Sunday the coolest day of the week for much of the country.

 

Only some of the valleys of Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha and Andalucia, along with Mallorca, are expected to see temperatures climb above 35C.

 

 

For more weather news go to our Weather & Climate page or follow the Spain Weather Watch Facebook group for regular updates

 

Images: Aemet