Following a week of summery high temperatures, the arrival of a trough and an Atlantic front brings significant changes. Several autonomous communities are expected to experience showers and locally heavy storms, with an orange weather alert issued for some areas during the penultimate weekend of September, according to forecasts from the State Meteorological Agency.
Unstable Weather with Heavy Rain and Possible Storms
Thus, the Aemet has issued an orange weather alert for Aragon and Navarra for Saturday, while on Sunday, the alert will extend to Catalonia from midday due to locally heavy showers and storms predominantly affecting the Cantabrian region, Upper Ebro, Iberian mountains, and western Pyrenees. A yellow alert will also be in place for Asturias, Cantabria, Castilla y León, País Vasco and La Rioja on Saturday, which will shift to Aragon and the Valencia Community on Sunday.
Consequently, unstable weather is expected across the Peninsula on Saturday due to the approach of a trough and the entry of an Atlantic front from the northwest. Skies will darken from west to east, with precipitation in the northern half and in the eastern mountains, becoming locally heavy and persistent in the Cantabrian region and western Pyrenees, where extremely heavy rainfall is anticipated.
On Sunday, the Peninsula will remain under the influence of an Atlantic trough, with the front passing from west to east. Thus, skies are expected to be predominantly cloudy or overcast, clearing in the southwest by the afternoon. Widespread precipitation and showers are anticipated across the Peninsula, which may be heavy and persistent in the extreme north. In the northeast, the rainfall could be particularly intense, with significant accumulations in the Pyrenees and Upper Ebro.
Drop in Temperatures
Throughout the weekend, a generalised drop in temperatures is expected, particularly pronounced on Saturday in the northwest, with no major changes in the mediterranean area and the Balearic Islands. On Sunday, the most significant cooling will occur in the northwest half, whereas some areas in the southeast may see a slight rise.
Nevertheless, maximum temperatures are forecast to exceed 35 degrees in parts of Canary Islands and Guadalquivir, reaching up to 37 degrees in Seville and Córdoba on Saturday, and 38 degrees in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife. On the contrary, minimum temperatures will not drop below 20 degrees in the Mediterranean, Lower Ebro and Atlantic valleys, while they will be around 5 degrees in Burgos, 6 degrees in Palencia, or 7 degrees in Ávila, León, Soria or Vitoria.
Light to Moderate Winds for the Weekend
Regarding the wind, on Saturday, moderate easterly breezes will prevail along the southern coastal areas, southern Balearics, and Cádiz, with occasional strong gusts possible in the Strait. In the northwest and the Cantabrian region, moderate westerly winds are expected, with strong intervals along the coast, generally light in other areas, and easterly and northeasterly in the Canary Islands. Winds will be from the east in the Mediterranean, with western components predominant elsewhere.
For Sunday, moderate westerly winds will blow along the Atlantic and Cantabrian slopes, shifting to north-west by the end of the day, with strong intervals in exposed areas, most likely along the coast. Initially, light winds from the south and east will dominate in the Mediterranean, shifting to westerly throughout the day, with the cierzo and tramontana winds establishing and bringing strong gusts.
