Madrid is under a yellow alert as Aemet warns of strong storms and possible hail. After an unusually warm September, autumn weather has finally arrived, bringing rain and cooler air while changing daily routines across the region.
The Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (Aemet) has placed all of Madrid under a yellow alert for intense rain and possible hail, a sharp break from the heat that lingered through September. The month was classified as "extremely warm," with maximum temperatures up to 5.1 degrees above normal. Under the Meteoalerta plan, a yellow alert warns in real time of dangerous weather in the next 72 hours. Aemet updates it as conditions change.
The warning covers the city center and the Sierra, as well as areas to the south, west and around Henares, including the vegas. It starts at 16:00 on Tuesday. Showers will be light and scattered early in the day, then storms are expected to strengthen and spread by afternoon, with hail possible. Aemet will track rainfall and hail, along with temperature swings, using official hourly data. Residents can check these figures after the front passes.
Clouds rolled in over the weekend, bringing patchy rain and cooler, damp air. For many, it finally felt like autumn. The change came after weeks of heat that stretched far past the official start of the season. Aemet spokesperson Rubén del Campo said the warmth began in mid-May and lasted through most of September. This year’s shift stands out.
Rain will continue on Wednesday. Showers should fade by late afternoon, but skies will stay unsettled. Fog is likely in the Sierra, especially in the morning and evening, which could make travel harder. Aemet’s forecast for October 5 to 11 says temperatures will return to normal across most of Spain. The northeast, Mediterranean coast and Balearic Islands may still run warm.
Temperatures are dropping. Minimums will hold steady on Tuesday, but highs will fall across the region and nights will feel colder. The trend will continue through the week. Collado Villalba could see lows of 7 degrees on Thursday. Madrid city expects minimums of 10 and highs of 20.
Autumn weather warnings are nothing new in Spain, but this year’s sudden change is hard to ignore. Just days ago, Madrid baked in summer heat. Now, downpours and hail could disrupt commutes and outdoor plans. The pattern matches what happened recently in Catalonia, as reported earlier, where flash floods and late alerts caught cities off guard.
Madrid’s yellow alert shows how quickly the weather can change, especially after months of extremes. Aemet’s early warnings give people time to prepare, but autumn storms are unpredictable. The city’s response will be tested as the week goes on, making timely updates and local readiness especially impressive.
