The thermal collapse arrives with rain, snow and hail on the Peninsula: some areas "will hardly reach 15 degrees"

The Spanish Meteorological Agency, Aemet, recalls that Spain is experiencing a meteorological drought at the start of 2023 due to the lack of rainfall. So far this hydrological year, from October 1, 2022 to May 8, 2023, 349 liters per square meter have been collected throughout the country, when the normal for that period is 479 liters.. This means that it has rained 27% less than normal.

But also, throughout the first four months of the year (January, February, March and April) only 112 liters per square meter have been collected, when the usual thing is that 250 would have been reached.

According to Rubén del Campo, Aemet meteorologist, less than half of the rain of a normal year has fallen (-54%), which makes the first four-month period of 2023 the driest of the entire historical series since there is official record, 1961. The liters collected this year are less than those of the first quarter of 2005, so far the driest, with 125 liters.

But it is that May has not started with an abundance of rains either. In eight days only 3 liters have been collected in the whole of Spain, “75% less than normal.”

rains arrive

That yes, and although rains are not expected in a generalized and continuous way that can alleviate the meteorological drought, precipitations come to the peninsula, mainly in the north.

According to Aemet, as a consequence of the arrival of humid winds from the north, the so-called 'Ice Saints', precipitation is expected in the extreme north, in the Cantabrian mountain range and in the Pyrenees, which could be persistent showers in parts of Catalonia, as well as locally intense or with hail in areas of the eastern peninsula and the Balearic Islands.

In addition, these colder winds will cause an announced thermal drop, which began to be felt on Wednesday. The drop in temperatures puts an end to an unusually warm month, with values above the average temperature almost uninterruptedly. Especially during the so-called “Iberian oven” that took place in the last week of April, from April 25 to 29, when heat records were broken since there are records (1951).

cold environment

For the remainder of the week, Aemet forecasts a colder environment than normal in the northern third, but on Friday it announces that some cities in the north will be 10 degrees below normal and snow could be seen at levels of about 1400- 1500 meters of altitude. In the rest, the temperatures typical of these May dates return.

“Soria, Pamplona or Burgos will hardly reach 15 degrees”

Specifically, this Thursday in the south Córdoba and Seville will continue to be around 32 degrees. But it is that Pamplona and Vitoria will have maximums of 15 degrees. Rainfall will be persistent in the Cantabrian Sea, Catalonia and the Pyrenees. With showers in the Valencian Community and probably in the Balearic Islands. There will be strong north wind in the northeast of the peninsula.

This Friday will increase instability even more. Aemet highlights rainfall on the Basque coast, showers in Catalonia and snow in the Pyrenees. Not ruled out locally heavy showers in the Balearic Islands. In the rest of the peninsula, more open skies and although in the south will reach 30 degrees, “Soria, Pamplona or Burgos will hardly reach 15 degrees,” according to Del Campo.

Del Campo.

Weekend rainfall will continue in the far north, persistent in Navarra and the Basque Country and weaker on Sunday. Temperatures will recover, although they will remain cooler than normal in the northern part of the peninsula.

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