Winter's fury hits Spain: 100 cm of snowfall expected
Storms Herminia and Ivo bring heavy snow to Spain
Spain's stormy weather persists as Storm Herminia, which brought hurricane-force winds, heavy rain, and snowfall on Monday, is followed by Storm Ivo, which is expected to deliver significant snowfall starting Wednesday.
All mountain ranges are forecasted to receive snow until at least Thursday, with potential accumulations reaching up to 100 cm (1 metre).
Some cities have already seen snowfall. León woke up to a blanket of white, while light snow has also fallen in Cuenca and in the mountainous areas of Albacete and Murcia.
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In the coming hours, significant snow accumulations are expected in higher altitudes, prompting weather warnings.
Where Will It Snow?
Temperatures have dropped following the front associated with Storm Herminia that passed through on Monday. As a result, ongoing precipitation may lead to snowfall in the next few hours. As of Tuesday afternoon, the snow level is around 800-1,000 metres in the north but is expected to rise to 1,500 metres as the day progresses.
Snowfall accumulations through Thursday (The Weather Network)
After the front from Storm Ivo moves in, a northerly flow will bring very cold polar air to the peninsula. Consequently, snow levels will begin to drop rapidly from the northwest on Wednesday afternoon.
Expected Snow Accumulations
As the snow level decreases between Wednesday afternoon and Thursday, many areas will experience snowfall. The altitude may drop to 700-900 metres in the northwest and around 1,000 metres in the rest of the country on Thursday.
We anticipate significant accumulations in all mountain systems, particularly in the Aragonese Pyrenees, where more than 70 cm of snow is expected. The Cantabrian mountain range will also see substantial snowfall, with over 30 cm possible in the western Central system. In the Sierra de Madrid, accumulations could reach 20 cm, with snow levels dropping to 800-1,000 metres.
Due to the intensity of the forecasted snowfall, yellow warnings will be issued for both Wednesday and Thursday in the Cantabrian and Iberian mountain ranges of Burgos, Soria, and La Rioja, as well as throughout the Pyrenees and in Sierra Nevada, Guadix, and Baza. In the north, snowfalls above 1,100 metres may exceed 10-15 cm.
Editor's Note: This article has been translated from Spanish to English for The Weather Network, originally published by El Tiempo. Read the original article, here.