Cold snap in Spain: Arctic air to blanket the country from November 17 to 23

Cold snap in Spain: Arctic air to blanket the country from November 17 to 23

Starting Monday, November 17, an Arctic air mass will move into the Iberian Peninsula, triggering one of the most significant cold spells of the current autumn-winter season.

According to data from Spain's State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) and European numerical models, temperatures across most regions will drop 6–10 degrees below the climatic norm. Night frosts will affect nearly the entire country, including the central plateau and inland areas of Andalusia. Snow is expected in northern and mountainous regions—such as the Cantabrian Mountains, the Pyrenees, and Sierra Nevada—where snow cover may reach 5–15 cm.

Temperatures are expected to drop especially sharply at night: thermometers in Madrid, Salamanca, and León could fall to -4...-7 °C, with frost down to -12 °C possible in high-altitude areas.

On the eastern coast, including the Valencian Community, precipitation will be minimal due to prevailing dry northwesterly winds. Daytime temperatures there will only reach 12–16 °C, and nighttime temperatures 4–8 °C—approximately 6–8 degrees below typical values for the second half of November. Snowfall along Valencia’s coastal zone is ruled out, but strong winds will significantly increase the feeling of cold.

Meteorologists warn of an increased risk of black ice on roads, particularly during nighttime and morning hours, and advise drivers to prepare winter tires and antifreeze in advance.

The cold spell will last until November 23–24, after which a gradual return of Atlantic air and a rise in temperatures to seasonal norms is expected.