article_detail

 

Storm Claudia, the second named storm of the season, will significantly impact the weather across Spain for the remainder of the week. The front will first hit the Canary Islands before extending to the entire west of the country on Thursday, bringing driving rain, treacherous waves and strong winds.

 

This southerly wind will carry suspended dust from North Africa, resulting in hazy conditions to the south and east until Friday. Unfortunately, this means that where rain is forecast, muddy rain will follow.

 

The situation will deteriorate on Thursday as the storm sweeps across mainland Spain. The front will move in through Galicia before pushing eastwards, bringing widespread rain and blustery winds. Showers will intensify through the afternoon along the Atlantic coast and reach central Spain later in the day.

 

Rain is expected in Galicia, Asturias, Castilla y León, Extremadura and western Andalucia, with yellow weather warnings in place for rainfall totals of 40–50 mm within 12 hours. In parts of northern Cáceres, Huelva and Cádiz, storms could be particularly intense.

 

Southerly winds will gust between 80 and 100 km/h across much of northern and western Spain, especially in mountainous areas, and waves up to four metres high are forecast along the Galician coast.

 

Temperatures will drop sharply across the south, centre and west, falling by as much as 8ºC compared with previous days. Dust levels will peak on Thursday, especially over the eastern half of the country and the Balearic Islands, with the thickest concentrations expected in Andalucia, Murcia and the Valencian Community.

 

On Friday morning, the front will continue to move eastwards but gradually weaken. Rain is likely across much of the country during the early hours, though it should be lighter along the Mediterranean coast.

 

Storm Claudia’s proximity to the western half of Spain will keep showers going in these regions throughout the day.

 

Temperatures will remain on the cool side, with maximums dropping below 15ºC in many inland areas. As the dust cloud shifts eastward, it will begin to fade, lingering mainly over the Mediterranean. Some light muddy rain could still fall in eastern Spain and the Balearic Islands.

 

While Claudia’s path on Saturday is still very uncertain, the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) forecasts that the storm could edge even closer to Galicia, bringing another spell of unsettled weather to much of the country.

 

The heaviest rainfall is likely in the west, where accumulations could exceed 350 mm in parts of Galicia and reach 150–200 mm in northern Extremadura, western Andalucia and western Castilla y León.

 

By Sunday, Storm Claudia is expected to lose strength and conditions should gradually improve. Cloudy or overcast skies are likely to persist, with patchy rain continuing across the southeastern half of the country during the morning and the Balearic Islands later in the day.

 

Join our Spain Weather Watch Facebook group for all the latest weather and climate change news

 

Images: Aemet