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It might be a new month, but the damp, miserable conditions that marked the beginning of the year look set to continue well into February. Storm Leonardo is winging its way towards Spain from the start of the week, bringing along cloudy skies, very strong gusts of wind and plenty more rain which will hit most of the country at some point.

 

Over the next few days, Spain and Portugal will be the wettest countries in Europe, according to the weather experts at Meteored, who expect the worst of the weather to hit western Galicia, Extremadura, Andalucia and the far south of Castilla-La Mancha. In fact, large parts of souther Spain can expect 90 litres per square metres more rain that normal for this time of year.

 

The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has issued a yellow alert for storms in Andalucia, which could be accompanied by very strong gusts of wind. Alerts have also been activated in Galicia, Extremadura and Castilla y León, where snowmelt warnings will also be in effect. As for snowfall, there will be yellow alerts in Galicia, Castilla-La Mancha and Castilla y León. Similarly, there will be an orange alert for coastal phenomena along the Galician coast due to waves that could reach five or six metres.

 

The entire country will be cloudy or overcast on Monday and rain will be widespread, although heavy downpours are less likely on the east coast and in the Balearic Islands.

 

Daytime temperatures will drop significantly in the west but it should remain mild along the east coast and in the extreme south.

 

The forecast is very similar on Tuesday, with partly cloudy skies in the east and the Balearics but more overcast conditions everywhere else.

 

Widespread rain is expected, again becoming lighter and more occasional in the far east. In contrast, rainfall will be more intense elsewhere, with the possibility of occasional heavy downpours.

 

A general drop in temperatures is expected across mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands, although the decrease will be less noticeable in the southwest.

 

It’s still a bit unclear how the storm will proceed by mid-week, but now the models point to a warm, humid air mass moving from southwest to northeast on Wednesday, resulting in cloudy or overcast skies and yet more widespread rain. Some of the heaviest rainfall looks set to hit Andalucia, where an orange alerts has been activated.

 

Yellow warnings have also been issued in the Valencian Community and the Region of Murcia for dangerous sea conditions.

 

Despite this outlook, daytime temperatures should inch up in most of the country.

 

Thursday is expected to be influenced by a deep low-pressure system located west of Ireland and the passage of an associated cold front. This will bring cloudy or overcast skies and widespread, persistent and locally heavy rainfall to areas along the Atlantic coast, with the worst downpours in Galicia and Andalucia.

 

Temperatures should continue to climb in the east of the country and the Balearic Islands.

 

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

 

Images: Aemet