Spain’s record heatwave is ending, but AEMET warns of a new threat. A cold air mass will trigger severe storms, hail, and strong winds, especially in the north and northeast. Temperatures will drop sharply in many regions.
Spain’s prolonged heatwave is set to break, but the transition will be anything but calm. The Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET) has issued warnings as a cold upper-level air mass, known as a DANA, approaches from the Atlantic. This shift is expected to bring a surge in atmospheric instability, resulting in severe thunderstorms, hail, and powerful wind gusts, particularly across northern and northeastern regions.
On Friday, much of the country remains under heat alerts, with Almería still at red warning level due to extreme temperatures. Other areas, including parts of Andalucía, Aragón, Castilla-La Mancha, Cataluña, Baleares, Murcia, Navarra, La Rioja, Comunidad Valenciana, and the Basque Country, continue to face various levels of heat advisories. In these zones, thermometers are still expected to exceed 35°C, and in some southeastern locations, temperatures may again surpass 40°C.
However, the weather pattern is shifting rapidly. As cooler air moves in at higher altitudes, cloud cover will increase and thunderstorms will begin to develop, gaining strength through the weekend. The first signs of this change will be seen in Galicia and Asturias, where abundant clouds and locally intense showers, possibly with hail, are forecast for Friday afternoon. At the same time, instability will rise in eastern Spain, with Aragón and Comunidad Valenciana identified as high-risk areas for severe storms. The evolving cloud formations could also extend heavy showers to neighboring provinces.
Saturday is expected to see the most widespread and intense storm activity. According to AEMET forecasts, heavy rainfall will spread across much of the northern third of the peninsula, with the Cantabrian communities, Navarra, northern Aragón, Cataluña, and the Pyrenees most at risk. In these regions, storms could deliver 15 to 20 liters of rain per square meter in just one hour, accompanied by hail and strong winds. AEMET advises residents to monitor weather alerts closely as conditions may change rapidly.
Further south, showers are possible but will likely be isolated and mostly confined to mountainous areas. These southern storms are not expected to match the intensity of those forecast for the north.
Alongside the storms, a significant drop in temperatures is forecast for the weekend. After days of exceptional heat and tropical nights—where minimum temperatures in some Mediterranean areas barely fell below 20 or even 25°C—cooler air will finally bring relief. Maximum temperatures will fall sharply in many regions, especially in Levante and the far northwest. Nighttime lows will also decrease, offering a much-needed break for residents who have struggled with persistent heat.
This weather change will also help clear the atmosphere. The arrival of wind and cooler air is expected to disperse the lingering calima, or Saharan dust, that has affected visibility and air quality across much of Spain in recent days.
However, this respite may be brief. Forecasts indicate that by Sunday, temperatures will begin to climb again in the southwest, with Extremadura and western Andalucía likely to see rising maximums. For those interested in how similar weather events have impacted Spain recently, a detailed report on storms, hail, and extreme heat in the southeast can be found in this analysis of severe storms and hail during a recent heatwave.
Spain’s climate is marked by sharp contrasts, and rapid weather changes are not uncommon. DANA events, in particular, are known for triggering sudden and sometimes dangerous storms, especially when they follow periods of intense heat. Residents in affected areas are advised to stay informed through official channels and to take precautions as conditions evolve.
