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Christmas week is set to feel properly wintry across Spain, with a mix of rain, sharply falling temperatures and even some snow in the mountains. A cold front that arrived over the weekend will continue to influence the weather as the week begins, followed by an influx of very cold air spreading across the country.

 

As a result, temperatures will drop noticeably, bringing frost to a number of inland areas and even some provincial capitals. 

 

Monday, which coincides with the Christmas Lottery draw, is expected to be one of the coldest and wettest days of the week. Rain will affect many coastal areas, with notable downpours along the Cantabrian coast, parts of Galicia including A Coruña and Pontevedra, northeastern Catalonia and the Balearic Islands.

 

Snow will fall across several northern mountain ranges.

 

Weather warnings are in place in large parts of the north and northeast, with yellow alerts for snow issued in regions including Asturias, Cantabria, Burgos, León, Segovia, Soria, Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Lugo. Huesca will also see very low temperatures, with minimums possibly reaching -6°C. Coastal warnings are active in several northern areas as well.

 

Rain will continue on Tuesday, particularly in northeastern Catalonia, Galicia and along the Cantabrian coast. Further south, Extremadura and parts of Andalucia are also likely to see rainfall, with totals of up to 25 litres per square metre. Around the Strait of Gibraltar, heavier bursts could push accumulations beyond 30 litres.

 

Snowfall will be more limited, with yellow alerts focused on Teruel, Zaragoza, Cuenca and Guadalajara. A few centimetres of snow are expected above 900 metres.

 

Christmas Eve looks slightly calmer but still unsettled in places. Rain is expected in the central Cantabrian region, while lighter showers may reach the Mediterranean coast of Andalucia, Catalonia and the Balearic Islands. In northern Mallorca and central Catalonia, rainfall could again approach 20 litres per square metre.

 

On Christmas Day, scattered showers are possible along the coast and across the northern half of the country. Parts of southern Valencia and northern Alicante could see more persistent rain, with totals exceeding 15 litres per square metre in some locations. Forecasts suggest that unsettled conditions are likely to continue after Christmas, although it is still too early to pinpoint exactly where the heaviest rain will fall.

 

 

The arrival of cold air will keep temperatures low throughout the week, with the coldest nights expected on Monday and again on Friday. Frost will mainly affect mountainous areas but could also reach provincial capitals such as Lugo, Oviedo, León, Zamora, Salamanca, Ávila, Segovia and Burgos.

 

Across northern Spain, minimum temperatures are expected to stay below 10°C for much of the week. Along the Mediterranean coast and in the Ebro and Guadalquivir valleys, lows will generally range between 10°C and 14°C.

 

Friday is set to be particularly cold, with daytime highs struggling to reach 5°C in parts of Castilla y León. Madrid is unlikely to climb above 7°C, while Granada and Zaragoza can expect highs of around 10°C.

 

 

As the week draws to a close, winter conditions are expected to persist. Friday December 26 is likely to remain cool and cloudy across much of Spain, with the chance of showers in some areas. Inland regions will feel particularly cold, especially overnight.

 

Saturday December 27 should bring similar conditions, with low cloud and fog possible in places, particularly inland. While rain looks less widespread, temperatures will remain on the low side for late December.

 

By Sunday December 28, cloud is expected to dominate again, with scattered showers possible in some regions, especially later in the day.

 

Overall, the final weekend of the year looks set to stay firmly on the chilly side, rounding off a Christmas week marked by cold air, rain and snow in many parts of the country.

 

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Images: Aemet