Harsh winter hits the north of the country
Eight autonomous communities in Spain were forced to declare an alert due to heavy snowfall that transformed daily life within just a few hours. Roads in the north have been blanketed with a thick layer of snow, and temperatures have plunged sharply. As a result, traffic on major highways has been disrupted, and local residents have had to adjust their plans.
The situation is particularly severe in Cantabria, Castilla y León, Navarra, and País Vasco, where the danger level has been raised to orange. Snow is piling up like a dense carpet, with some areas exceeding 10 centimeters already at 500 meters above sea level. Drivers must be extremely cautious, as visibility is near zero on certain stretches, and road crews are working around the clock.
Deep freeze and snowstorms: regions brace for change
Meanwhile, in Cataluña and Islas Baleares, the alert stems not only from precipitation but also from severe sea storms. In Aragón, Asturias, Cataluña, and La Rioja, a yellow alert is in effect: snowfall is less intense here, but still poses risks to transportation and daily life.
Up to 25 centimeters of snow may fall in the mountainous regions of Burgos and Navarra within 24 hours, while in Liébana and Cantabria del Ebro, the snow cover reaches 20 centimeters. Snowfall continues in central Navarra and northern Basque Country as well, especially in areas like Llanada Alavesa and the Cuenca del Nervión valley.
A Warming Trend on the Horizon: When Will the Weather Improve?
Although frost and snowfall continue to grip the north of the country, forecasters predict a shift by the end of the week. On Saturday, warmer Atlantic air is expected to move in, leading to a rise in temperatures and gradually pushing the snowline higher. This means snowfall will retreat to the mountains, and thawing will begin on the plains.
By Saturday evening, the snowline in western Spain will rise from 500-900 meters to 1,600-2,000 meters, and in other regions—from 400-500 up to 700-1,000 meters. However, in the northeast, snow may linger for longer. For now, residents and visitors in northern Spain should brace themselves for challenging weather and pay close attention to changing road conditions.
