Initial Impact: Sea, Land, and Air Transport Disrupted
Storm Francis is severely impacting the entire country, with the adverse weather conditions it brings already causing disruptions to sea, land, and air transport in some areas. In the Canary Islands, heavy rainfall on La Palma has caused flooding, forcing flight cancellations. The entire archipelago remains under a yellow alert for heavy rain. On mainland Spain, snow accumulation has led to the closure of parts of the secondary road network. Meanwhile, ferry services across the Strait of Gibraltar, connecting the European and African continents, have also been suspended due to poor sea conditions.
Snowfall Alerts and the Arrival of an Arctic Air Mass
Spain’s State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) warns that as the storm system moves eastward, rare snowfall may occur at low altitudes in central Spain between January 4 and 6. Although a French weather channel had predicted 10 to 20 cm of heavy snow for the capital, Madrid, AEMET’s latest forecast has downgraded this expectation to “just a few centimeters.” However, the snow line will drop significantly; for instance, in the plains of Cartagena, snowfall could occur as low as 300 meters above sea level. The weather website Meteored indicates that a polar air mass is expected to reach the Iberian Peninsula on Monday, January 5, which will be the primary cause of the sharp drop in temperatures and the expansion of snowfall.
Three Kings’ Day Celebrations Face a Severe Test
The impending extreme weather coincides with Spain’s important Three Kings’ Day, with parades held on the evening of January 5. The rainy and snowy conditions threaten the celebrations in many parts of the country. According to forecasts, numerous cities, including Alicante, Valencia, Murcia, Albacete, Almería, Granada, Jaén, Palma, Oviedo, Santander, Bilbao, as well as Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, may have to cancel or modify their traditional Three Kings’ Day parades due to the weather. Among them, the historic Three Kings’ Day celebration in Alcoy faces the same risk.
Nationwide Deep Freeze and Future Outlook
A special notice issued by AEMET states that from January 5 to 11, temperatures across almost all of Spain will be significantly below the average for this time of year. Daytime will feel very cold, and widespread, heavy frosts are likely during the night and early morning. This cold spell is expected to peak around Wednesday, January 7, or Thursday, January 8, after which temperatures will begin to slowly recover. Authorities advise the public to stay informed with the latest weather warnings, plan their travel accordingly, and prepare for the severe cold, especially in the southern, eastern, and central regions of Spain, where vigilance is required for the persistent effects of heavy rain, snow, and low temperatures.
