Spain Sees Rising Temperatures and Isolated Storms This Weekend

Temperatures are rising across Spain on Friday, especially in the north of the peninsula after a brief respite. Thermometers are returning to values more typical of July. Tropical nights are occurring in Alicante and Jaén, and minimum temperatures in Madrid and Toledo are climbing back to 20°C.

The main weather feature on Friday is an easterly wind in the Strait of Gibraltar. AEMET has issued orange weather alerts in the province of Cádiz for gusts of up to 90 km/h. Force 8 seas are occurring to the west of Tarifa and south of Cape Trafalgar.

Winds are easing in the Ampurdán and in the Canary Islands compared with recent days. Saturday will start sunny with a few isolated afternoon storms in Galicia, western Castile and León, and Asturias. Temperatures of 35°C are expected in parts of the Cantabrian region, Galicia, and Castile and León.

Temperatures in the Guadiana and Guadalquivir valleys will come close to 40°C. On Sunday an influx of cold air at high altitude will increase instability over the interior of the peninsula from midday onwards. Storms possibly accompanied by very strong gusts of wind are most likely in inland Galicia, Asturias, Castile and León, Extremadura, and Castile-La Mancha.

The eastern side of the peninsula, the Balearic Islands, and the Canary Islands will largely be spared. From 15 to 21 June the week will begin unsettled with clouds building from midday and possible showers in inland areas, more likely on Monday. Temperatures will remain above what is usual for the time of year, with full-on summer heat particularly intense in the centre and north of the country.

From 22 to 28 June forecasts suggest heat will continue although less intensely, with no clear trend in rainfall. By the end of June and the start of July the weather pattern could settle into a typically summer regime of warm conditions with little precipitation. June is hotter than normal.