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Spain is in for a weather rollercoaster over the coming days, with heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds sweeping across the country along with a sharp cold snap by Saturday and Sunday.

 

The change began to take hold this Wednesday, April 8, as an isolated low-pressure system settled to the southwest of mainland Spain, dragging unstable conditions across much of the west and south of the country. Seven regions were placed on alert for rain, storms, rough seas and strong winds: Andalucía, Asturias, Castilla y León, Castilla-La Mancha, Extremadura, Galicia and the Canary Islands.

 

Adding to the unsettled picture, suspended Saharan dust – the dreaded ‘calima’ – began to spread across central and western Spain over the next few days. Combined with the rain, this has led to muddy showers, leaving cars and streets coated in that unmistakeable fine reddish-brown residue.

 

For Thursday and Friday, these wet weather conditions are forecast to ease off, leaving mainly sunny and bright conditions with only some light rainfall in Granada and a couple of spots in Extremadura and temperatures are also likely to recover slightly towards the end of the week.

 

 

That improvement, however, is not expected to last.

 

On Saturday 11, the rain is due to return and become more widespread and persistent across Spain, especially in the north, in inland parts of the southwest and central areas, including thunderstorms in Extremadura and inland Andalucía. The Canary Islands are also expected to see cloudier skies in the north of the larger islands, with light rain and strengthening northerly winds.

 

 

By Sunday April 12, another major shift is forecast, with a marked drop in temperatures likely across much of the country. The State Meteorological Agency, Aemet, has warned that conditions could suddenly feel more like late February or early March.

 

The sharpest falls are expected in the western half of the country, particularly in Andalucía, Extremadura and the western central plateau, although these are precisely the areas which should dry out a bit while the wet weather system moves north and east to cover the Mediterranean coastline, Catalonia and the Balearic Islands with the worst of the rain.

 

 

As the rainclouds continue to push eastwards across the Med, Spain will be left with a much drier and sunnier outlook for next week, including temperatures pushing up well into the 20s once again.

 

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

 

Images: Aemet