AEMET warns of violent dry storms hitting these parts of Spain in hours

People in Spain have the same thought: It seems like July is a month earlier.

It is a surprise how quickly the heat has intensified. Terraces are packed in many cities, and in some regions temperatures are approaching 40C despite summer not having officially begun yet.

The heat may not be enough to cause danger, say meteorologists. While Spain is baking under high temperatures that are unusual, the atmosphere has become increasingly unstable, increasing the likelihood of violent storms. These can produce lightning, large hail, and destructive winds.

These storms are dangerous because of their rapid development.

Some places may experience a calm and sunny day for the majority of the time, but conditions can suddenly change to a stormy one in less than an hour.

AEMET The forecasters have already issued warnings in multiple regions, as they monitor the weather that could lead to one of Spain’s most unpredictable weather patterns this year.

Why meteorologists are increasingly concerned about these storms

When people hear storms, they usually think of heavy rain. However, this is a different situation.

Weather experts say that some of the most powerful storm cells this week could produce little rain, but still create dangerous conditions on the surface. That is why forecasters keep talking about ‘dry storms’.

The main risks come from lightning activity, hail and powerful downdrafts of wind known in Spain as ‘reventones’.

Wind bursts, in my opinion, can quickly become very unpleasant.

Within minutes, they can cause dangerous driving conditions by causing damage to outdoor furniture, destroying terraces and bringing down trees.

Meteorologists have predicted gusts of up to 80 km/h in certain areas, mainly across northern Spain.

As a result of the collision between extremely warm air near surface and disturbances that are higher up, unstable conditions develop.

As temperatures increase in the afternoon, cloud growth can become very intense. After several days of building heat across the country the atmosphere is now able to produce storms that are very intense.

Forecasters pay close attention to the current situation.

This week, the greatest risk is in these parts of Spain

The North of Spain is currently the most vulnerable to instabilities. After AEMET issued a warning for Vizcaya, where temperatures could reach 37C in the lower inland area, Basque Country residents are paying special attention.

As temperatures continue to climb above normal for May, yellow alerts will remain in effect across the rest the region. Asturias, Cantabria and other regions are also experiencing a complex mix of heat and thunderstorms.

There are warnings of high temperatures in both regions, as well the possibility for hail, isolated rain showers and violent winds later on.

Galicia has a similar problem.

The temperatures in Ourense could reach 36C, while there are storm warnings active throughout inland Galicia. This includes Lugo.

Further inland, conditions remain unstable across Castilla y León where provinces such as León, Palencia and Zamora are also being monitored closely for hail and strong winds.

According to European forecasting models some hailstones could be larger than two centimetres.

It may not seem like a lot, but you will be surprised by the damage that hail this size can cause.

In a matter of minutes, car windscreens can crack, terrace umbrellas can collapse, and crops can be destroyed. People caught without shelter are at risk for injury.

Other places, heat continues to be a major problem.

Extremadura could see temperatures reaching 38C while parts of Aragón, Catalonia, Navarra and La Rioja also remain under heat alerts.

Meanwhile in Cádiz province, strong Levante winds continue creating difficult coastal conditions near the Strait.

Spain’s weather may become more unpredictable by the weekend

The fact that this situation is not likely to end soon has made meteorologists wary.

Thursday, May 28,  is expected to bring another similar afternoon pattern with storms developing again in several northern and inland regions, although current forecasts suggest slightly lower intensity compared with Wednesday.

Weather experts warn people to not relax too much. The heat is here to stay.

The minimum temperatures at night are expected to increase in the coming days. Many areas will struggle to cool themselves down overnight.

As we look ahead to the weekend and Friday, the forecasters have already begun monitoring another disturbance moving towards the Iberian Peninsula.

This could lead to a new surge in storm activity, just as the heat wave continues. Some models suggest that storms could be more severe and organised in some areas later this week.

Many people in Spain are surprised by how misleading the weather looks before it rains.

Often, the day begins with a normal start: blue skies and bright sunshine.

Outside, people are drinking coffee. The atmosphere suddenly changes. The clouds quickly build up over the mountains. The wind changes. And the sky darkens. Within minutes, the conditions can be dangerous.

Meteorologists are always urging people to pay attention to warnings in the coming days. The weather this week isn’t behaving in a way that would normally be expected for late spring.

This heat is already a lot more intense than the type of heat that Spain typically experiences much later in summer.