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As a DANA from the Atlantic barrels into Europe, a wild weekend is in store with hail, lightning and freezing temperatures.
Heavy rain and storm alerts in Spain – smartphone displays live weather updates as traffic slows during downpour.
Credit: Black Salmon, Shutterstock.
Spain is bracing itself for a weather U-turn.
After weeks of sweltering heat, a sharp blast of cold Atlantic air is set to batter the country – bringing torrential rain, giant hail, gale-force winds, and a dramatic temperature plunge. What is the culprit? A DANA – a high-altitude blob of cold air that could stir up some serious chaos.
Meteorologist Marta Almarcha at ElTiempo confirmed:
‘A cold air pocket will cross the northwest peninsula, bringing instability, intense rain, hail, and a sharp drop in temperatures.’
From calm to calamity – how the chaos will unfold
The week began Take a look at the pictures below. quietly, save for a few wobbles in the Med – but from Friday, July 11, everything changes. The DANA is expected to crash land in Galicia and trigger a storm cascade across Asturias and Cantabria. Castilla y LeonAnd beyond.
On Saturday, this system will move eastward and hammer Aragon as well as Catalonia, Navarra La Rioja and Comunidad Valenciana in the north. By Sunday, the worst of it will be over – but not before soaking much of the country and delivering a refreshing hit of cooler air.
Where the heavens will open – region-by-region breakdown
Aragon
Friday is the start of the weekend Offered by With yellow and orange warnings already in effect. Expect 20–30mm of rain in just one hour, large hail, and strong wind gusts. Saturday will see two major storm surges – one in the morning and another in the afternoon – with rainfall totals topping 50mm in parts of the region.
Catalonia
Lleida Girona and Barcelona inland are all under storm watch. Forecasts for Friday include 20mm/hour, but Saturday is predicted to be the worst. Morning storms will strike inland areas first, before spreading northeast later in the day – complete with hail and high winds.
Comunidad Valenciana
Castellon, Valencia and other areas will be affected. The rain that falls on Friday will hit the inland first. Saturday’s rainfall is expected to start early along the northern coast of Castellon, and then move inland. Other areas will see a more moderate rainfall.
Freefalling temperatures, fierce lightning and freak hail
Just days ago, Seville, Cordoba, and Granada were baking in 39°C heat. But this weekend, many cities won’t even crack 30°C, with a noticeable chill even in Madrid and Zaragoza.
At night, the change will be even more welcome – tropical nights are on their way out, offering cooler, more comfortable sleep in much of the country. Only the Mediterranean and Canaries will remain muggy.
‘We won’t even reach 35°C in most places,’ warned weather expert Mario Picazo. ‘It’s going to feel radically cooler – but only briefly.’
Yellow and Orange Warnings lighting Then, you can get started. Map
Spain’s National Weather Service is not holding back. Storm alerts have been activated in the north-east. These include warnings of hail, violent winds, lightning, and flash floods.
- Galicia
- Asturias
- Cantabria
- Castilla y Leon
- Basque Country
- Navarra
- La Rioja
- Aragon
- Catalonia
- Northern Comunidad Valenciana
Some The following are some examples of the use of – particularly Navarra, the Pyrenees and the Ebro The valley – rainfall Could hit 40mm in an hour.
Heat returns next week – just in time
Enjoy the cool snap as long as it lasts. It may be a relief, but the DANA won’t last. The temperatures will rise from Sunday, just in time for Spain’s notorious “summer heat”. canícula – the two hottest weeks of the year, starting July 15.
Some areas in the south and centre could be back above 35°C by midweek.
The takeaway – cancel your BBQs and keep the brolly close
This weekend’s forecast is anything but a washout – it’s a weather wallop. Hailstones, thunderstorms, flooding and fierce wind are all possible.
If you’re in the north or east – or planning a mountain escape – stay alert, keep an eye on local warnings, and maybe think twice before heading out.
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