Polar air is moving into Spain from the north, bringing a sudden cold snap after a recent run of storms. The country is facing its coldest nights of the season, with maximum temperatures in Asturias and the Basque Country set to fall by 6 to 8 degrees Celsius. Northern Navarra is forecast to see the same drop. Spain's national weather agency, AEMET, links the abrupt shift to a surge of high pressure over the Atlantic and a cold upper-level system between France and Italy, which is funneling frigid air over the peninsula.
Storms have battered parts of Spain in recent days, and some areas remain under flood watch. Now, a polar air mass combined with steady northerly winds is set to lower daytime and nighttime temperatures. Highs in Ávila and León are forecast to fall to 18 to 19ºC. Palencia and Salamanca are expected to see similar temperatures, while the meseta norte may not reach 20ºC. AEMET's Meteoalerta system continues to issue warnings for dangerous weather. Residents are urged to check the alerts for the latest information on storms and heavy rain, as well as flood risks.
Marca reports that by the end of the week, maximum temperatures could fall by 5 to 9°C in Castilla-La Mancha and Madrid. Aragón and Catalonia may see similar drops, as could the Balearic Islands. In some foothill and Pyrenean areas of Huesca, temperatures could fall by around 10°C.
Further south, the Mediterranean coast and the Ebro valley will retain more warmth, with highs of 24 to 27ºC. Sevilla and Murcia could reach 28ºC. But the respite will be brief. By Thursday, the cold is expected to tighten its grip on northern Spain. La Rioja and the interior of the Basque Country are in line for a further 6 to 8ºC drop in daytime highs. Cantabria is also forecast to see that decline. By Friday, the chill will reach the center, the Mediterranean coast and the Balearic Islands.
Nights will turn colder still. After a stretch of mild, damp evenings brought by rain and clouds, minimum temperatures are set to fall below 10ºC across much of the northern interior. That includes Galicia and the Cantabrian region. La Rioja and Navarra are also in line for the drop, as are Castilla y León and Aragón. Inland Catalonia will see temperatures fall below 10ºC, too. Early mornings in some cities in Castilla y León and northern Castilla-La Mancha could see temperatures drop to 5 to 7ºC. Madrid and Extremadura may also wake to single-digit lows. Marca reports that minimums could reach -2ºC in some places. Ávila and Segovia are expected to see lows of 3 to 4ºC, as is Teruel. The first frosts of the season could hit higher and inland areas.
The coldest nights are expected between Wednesday and Saturday, with Friday and Saturday mornings likely to be the chilliest. The south and the Canary Islands will remain relatively mild, with highs potentially reaching 27 to 28ºC in Andalucía and Murcia. El País noted that while the north and center have faced storms and falling temperatures, the southern Valencian Community and Murcia have held onto temperatures close to 30ºC, illustrating the sharp contrasts in Spain's climate.
The cold snap does not signal the start of a sustained cold season. AEMET's seasonal forecast for October to December indicates a high probability of above-average temperatures across Spain, making this episode a brief cold phase rather than a lasting shift to winter conditions.
As the weekend and the Puente del Pilar holiday approach, temperatures are expected to edge up, particularly as the weather settles. The overall pattern will remain cool, with only a gradual warming trend. Anyone planning to spend time outdoors should be prepared for brisk mornings and evenings, especially in the north and inland. Vozpópuli reports that temperatures may begin to climb again from the weekend, alongside more stable weather during the Pilar holiday, although the general backdrop will remain mild.
This sharp swing from storms to cold is not new for Spain, but the scale of this year's temperature drop stands out. As reported earlier, the Pilar holiday often brings unsettled weather, but this time the polar air mass is set to bring widespread chill and a swift end to the recent warmth.
