Four Seasons in One Day: Weather Warnings for Rain, Storms, Snow and Wind Across Spain — But Some Regions Get Sunshine

Polar Air Mass Sweeps In

Large swathes of Spain are bracing for a wave of unpredictable weather as the summer-like temperatures enjoyed earlier this week beat a hasty retreat. AEMET has issued alerts for five different types of weather as a polar air mass pushes the mercury down across much of the Iberian Peninsula.

Heavy Rain: Costa Blanca and Balearics

A band of heavy rainfall is making its way east towards the Costa Blanca and Balearic Islands, with yellow warnings issued from the Alicante coast to Jaén in inland Andalucía. Up to 15mm of rain per hour is forecast, with the alert in place from 2pm Sunday until midnight. Thunderstorms are also likely.

Wind: 80km/h Gusts in Tarragona

A wind warning is in place across Tarragona, where gusts could exceed 80km/h. Blustery conditions are also expected in the north-eastern tip of Catalonia and the Balearic Islands.

Waves: Orange Alert on Northern Coast

An orange alert has been activated from Galicia to the Basque Country for powerful waves crashing into Spain's northern coast — with breakers potentially exceeding six metres.

Lower-level yellow warnings for rough seas are also in place on the Costa del Sol (waves over 3m), Tarragona, the Balearics and the Canary Islands.

Snow: Above 900m Near the Pyrenees

The sudden temperature drop has forced AEMET to issue warnings for snow, with 5cm expected to settle at altitudes above 900 metres near the Pyrenees.

But Sunshine in the West

It's not all doom and gloom. Significant parts of the country will continue to enjoy sunshine — albeit at lower temperatures than normal for April. Expats near the Portuguese border or in western Andalucía should expect clear skies, with the sunny weather drifting further north and east on Monday.

A Dramatic Temperature Swing

Earlier this week, temperatures across Spain were above 25°C almost everywhere, with some areas topping 30°C. Between Saturday and Sunday, maximum temperatures have dropped extraordinarily — with frosts expected in mountain areas and higher ground.

Warnings for wind, rain and choppy waves remain in place at the start of next week.

This article is based on reporting from The Olive Press, published April 12, 2026. Weather conditions are subject to rapid change — always check the latest AEMET forecasts. This article is for informational purposes only.