Storm Francis brings chaos to Spain, as roads are closed and temperatures drop

Spain has awoken to a wintry storm as Storm Francis continues its sweep of the country. The storm is bringing snow, rain and a sharp drop in temperatures, just as the families are preparing for the Three Kings celebrations. What was already a wet weekend in parts of Andalucía has now turned into a full-blown winter episode, with widespread weather alerts, road closures and growing concern over travel and safety.

Stormy conditions, caused by Arctic air masses, are a more common occurrence in mid-winter rather than early January. Snow, cold and rain have affected large areas of the peninsula. Authorities urge people to be informed and avoid unnecessary trips.

Snow falls across Spain as long-term weather alerts are active

The Spanish national weather agency. AEMETSnow alerts have been issued for 11 autonomous community, which highlights the severity of the situation. Cantabria faces the worst conditions with an orange alert in place because of the possibility of significant snowfall. This region is expected to see snow accumulations between 700 and 800 metres high within a 24 hour period.

Elsewhere, yellow alerts are active in Catalonia, Madrid, Aragón, Castilla y León, Castilla-La Mancha, Asturias, Galicia, Murcia, the Valencian Community and parts of Andalucía. In many of these regions, snow is expected to fall at low levels. This increases the risk of disruptions during the week.

Madrid is also closely monitoring the weather. While accumulations may not be as high in the Sierra, they could reach up to 5 centimetres. There is a possibility of light snow or ice patches in urban areas, and along the Henares-Corridor. The temperatures will be below zero all day.

Snow and ice disrupt roads across the country

The road network in Spain has felt the impact immediately. According to the Directorate-General for Traffic DGT reports that more than 30 roads, including some key routes, are affected by the difficulties. The A-2 near Cervera in the province Barcelona was shut down after an accident caused by snowy weather conditions. This caused long queues in the area and more delays.

Problems have also been reported on major roads in Aragón, Madrid, Castilla y León and parts of Andalucía. In certain areas, chains are required, speed limits have decreased, and heavy vehicles are banned on some stretches. Some mountain roads were closed completely due to snow and ice. This left some communities cut off.

The snow is not the only problem. In the South, flooding is still a problem due to heavy rain. Thirteen roads remain closed due to flooding, mainly in the provinces of Cádiz and Málaga, with one affected road also reported in Mallorca. In Cádiz, authorities ordered the preventive evacuation of 470 homes located downstream from the Guadarranque reservoir, after rising river levels raised safety concerns in several towns and urban areas.

The winter season is made more difficult by the freezing temperatures

Cold is a big problem, along with snow and rain. Temperatures dropped dramatically, with overnight lows in the mountains near Madrid expected to be minus seven degrees and even lower in other areas inland. Guadalajara could see temperatures as low as minus 8 degrees in some areas, and the Pyrenees range is also bracing itself for similar conditions.

Catalonia The emergency cold weather plan has been activated, and warns that temperatures in the Pyrenees could drop to minus 12 degrees over the next few days. Even coastal areas will be affected, as temperatures are expected to drop close to zero with the potential for localised frost.

Experts warn that the combination between snow, ice, and freezing air is likely to continue to be dangerous, especially in the early mornings and late at night when pavements and roads are most susceptible to freezing. Authorities Drivers are advised to check weather conditions before travel, carry winter equipment if required and avoid high-altitude roads unless absolutely needed.

Spain faces several more challenging days of winter weather, as Storm Francis continues its movement across the peninsula. With Three Kings celebrations just around the corner, many families will be keeping a close eye on forecasts, hoping conditions ease in time – but for now, caution remains the watchword across much of the country.