In recent days, residents of Spain have experienced a sudden change in weather. After a prolonged period of unseasonable September heat, the country was hit by heavy rains, thunderstorms, and a noticeable drop in temperatures. The phenomenon was particularly intense on the eastern coast and the Balearic Islands, where warnings about downpours and storms have been in effect since the morning.
Heavy rainfall—up to 30 liters per square meter in just one hour in some places—has been recorded in the provinces of Alicante, Murcia, Almería, Barcelona, and Girona, as well as on Mallorca and Menorca. On the Costa Brava in Girona and Tarragona, stormy winds are raging and waves are reaching up to three meters. The Pyrenees mountains have already seen their first snowfall, although it remains light for now.
This instability is caused by a mass of cold air at high altitudes, now situated over southern France. It is triggering the formation of powerful storm clouds, especially over the Mediterranean region and the northeast of the country. In Catalonia and along the southeastern coast, heavy rains fell overnight, while during the day, cloud cover and brief showers are lingering in the northern and southeastern mountain areas. In contrast, western regions of Spain are enjoying calmer weather thanks to the influence of an Atlantic anticyclone.
Temperature swings are being felt across the country. In Mediterranean regions and the Canary Islands, thermometers have dropped sharply, while in the northwestern inland areas, there has been a slight increase in daytime temperatures. Nighttime values have fallen so much that the first frosts have appeared in the Pyrenees and on the peaks of the Cantabrian Mountains and the Iberian System. Morning fog in the valleys of the north and southeast only reinforces the sense that autumn has arrived.
However, forecasters are already predicting dramatic changes starting Thursday. Atmospheric pressure will begin to rise, skies will clear, and temperatures will noticeably increase. From Thursday through Sunday, the entire country is expected to enjoy stable, sunny, and warm weather. This coincides with the traditional late September warm spell known locally as “veranillo de San Miguel.” In some regions, especially in the Guadalquivir valley, the southwest, and the inland areas of the Valencian Community, daytime highs will once again approach—or even exceed—30 degrees.
This warm spell is not an annual guarantee, but Spaniards have come to see it as a customary farewell to summer. Meteorologically, it is linked to the spread of the Azores Anticyclone, which blocks incoming cyclones and prevents cold air from reaching the Iberian Peninsula. This period usually lasts only a few days, but it is enough to fill terraces and beaches with vacationers once again, before October brings the definitive autumn chill.
Forecasters warn that it is best to keep an umbrella handy until Wednesday, but starting Thursday, you can expect sunshine, warm evenings, and milder nights. Even in the mountains, nighttime temperatures will rise slightly, and frosts will temporarily retreat.
