Storm Oriana: Temperatures Rise But Wind Alerts Remain in Spain

Spain is contending with a succession of storms, with Storm Oriana bringing continued disruption across much of the country following the recent passage of Storm Nils. While temperatures are expected to rise across many areas on Monday, February 16th, weather alerts remain in effect, particularly for strong winds impacting regions including Andalusia, Catalonia, the Valencian Community, and Murcia, as well as Melilla.

The Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has issued an orange alert for Tarragona, forecasting wind gusts potentially reaching 90 kilometers per hour. Yellow alerts are also in place for strong winds and rough seas along the northwestern coastline and in inland areas, where gusts could reach 70 kilometers per hour. The ongoing conditions are attributed to a stationary front bringing persistent cloud cover and potential rainfall to parts of northern and western Spain.

The arrival of Storm Oriana follows closely on the heels of Storm Nils, which brought heavy rain and strong winds earlier in the week. The rapid succession of these weather systems has placed a strain on infrastructure and emergency services across the Iberian Peninsula.

Forecasters are predicting snow at elevations above 1,800 to 2,000 meters in the Pyrenees, decreasing to 1,500 meters later in the day. Fog and mist are also expected in Galicia, the Atlantic mountains, and parts of southern Spain. Calima, a haze of dust particles carried by the wind from the Sahara Desert, is forecast to affect the Canary Islands, potentially impacting air quality.

Despite the continued unsettled weather, temperatures are generally expected to increase. Castellón is forecast to reach 26°C, Valencia 23°C, and Alicante 22°C. However, temperatures will decrease in eastern Cantabria and remain stable in the Guadalquivir valley. Minimum temperatures are also expected to rise, particularly in inland areas of northern and central Spain, though weak frosts are still possible at higher elevations in the Pyrenees.

Regional Forecasts

Galicia: Cloudy skies with moderate and widespread rainfall, potentially heavy and persistent in the north and interior of Pontevedra. Temperatures are expected to rise generally, with a more pronounced increase in minimum temperatures. Winds will be light to moderate from the southwest, with stronger gusts along the northern coast.

Asturias: Cloudy skies with weak to moderate rainfall, becoming more widespread, though less intense and frequent in the western sector of the Cordillera. Minimum temperatures will rise generally, with a notable increase in the Cordillera and Picos de Europa. Maximum temperatures will remain largely unchanged. Winds will be light to moderate from the southwest inland, and from the west, more intense, along the coast, with potentially very strong gusts in the eastern Picos de Europa.

Cantabria: Cloudy skies with moderate rainfall throughout the day, becoming more intense and persistent in the eastern interior in the afternoon. Minimum temperatures will rise generally, with a notable increase in the south. Maximum temperatures will decrease slightly along the coast and increase slightly in the Ebro area, remaining largely unchanged elsewhere. Winds will be light and variable inland, with a moderate west component, and stronger along the coast. Very strong gusts are possible in the western Liébana region.

Basque Country: Cloudy skies with moderate and widespread rainfall, more intense and persistent in the northern provinces. Temperatures will see a general rise in minimums, with a notable increase in Álava. Maximum temperatures will decrease slightly in the north and increase slightly in the south. Winds will be from the west, light inland and moderate along the coasts and in the southern part of Álava.

Castilla y León: Cloudy or overcast skies, tending towards intervals of low and high clouds in the south. Precipitation is expected, mainly in the north and east, potentially localized and persistent in mountainous areas. Temperatures will rise, with a notable increase in minimums, potentially extraordinary in the eastern Cantabrian region, and a slight to moderate increase in maximums. Weak frosts are possible at higher elevations of the Sistema Central. Winds will be from the southwest and west, with some strong or very strong gusts in mountainous areas in the afternoon.

Navarre: Cloudy skies with moderate rainfall throughout the day, more intense and persistent in the north. Minimum temperatures will rise generally. Maximum temperatures will decrease slightly or remain unchanged. Winds will be light to moderate from the west, shifting to northwest in the afternoon.

La Rioja: Cloudy skies with intervals of clouds, more frequent in the Ibérico region, while occasional showers may fall in the valley in the afternoon. Temperatures will rise, with a notable increase in minimums, and a slight increase in maximums in the valley. Winds will be from the southwest and west, with some strong or very strong gusts in the afternoon.

Aragón: Little cloud in the south, with intervals of medium and high clouds; in the rest, cloudy or very cloudy skies with persistent precipitation on the Pyrenees divide and weak and occasional precipitation in the rest, more isolated the further south. Snow line in the Pyrenees falling from 2000 meters to 1600-1800 meters. Temperatures will rise generally, with a notable increase in minimums. Weak frosts in the Pyrenees. Winds will be moderate to strong from the west and northwest, with very strong gusts in the Iberian System, likely in Pyrenees peaks with blizzard conditions and other high or exposed areas of the northern half.

Catalonia: In the Pyrenees, cloudy or very cloudy skies with precipitation, locally persistent in the Aran valley and the rest of the western Pyrenees. Snow line falling from 2000 meters to 1600-1800 meters. In the rest, intervals of medium and high clouds. Temperatures will rise, with a notable increase in minimums, locally extraordinary in the Pyrenees. Winds will be moderate to strong from the west and northwest, with very strong gusts in the south, likely in Pyrenees peaks with blizzard conditions and other high or exposed areas of the northern half.

Extremadura: Skies with intervals of clouds, predominating medium and high clouds. Temperatures will see minimums rise and maximums remain unchanged or increase slightly. Winds will be from the west, light to moderate.

Madrid: Cloudy or overcast. Fog or mist in high areas of the Sierra, possibly persistent in the Serranías and Alcaráz and Segura. Possible weak and scattered precipitation in the Sierra. Temperatures will rise, with a notable local increase in minimums. Winds will be light from the west, with moderate intervals in the afternoon, when very strong gusts are likely in the Sierra.

Castilla-La Mancha: Cloudy or overcast. Fog or mist in the morning in mountainous areas, which may be persistent in the Serranías and Alcaráz and Segura. No precipitation is ruled out, weak and scattered in the Iberian System of Guadalajara during the central hours. Temperatures will rise, with a notable local increase in minimums. Winds will be light to moderate from the west, with likely very strong gusts in high areas of the northeastern quadrant.

Comunidad Valenciana: Intervals of clouds, predominating medium and high clouds. Temperatures will rise, locally notably in the interior minimums. Winds from the west and northwest moderate to strong, with very strong gusts in the interior, likely on the Valencia and Alicante coasts.

Murcia: Cloudy skies with medium and high clouds. Temperatures will rise. Winds from the northwest moderate, with strong intervals and very strong gusts.

Balearic Islands: Intervals of medium and high clouds. Temperatures will rise. Moderate winds from the west.

Andalusia: Little cloud with intervals of high clouds on the Mediterranean slope. Cloudy skies in the rest, without ruling out weak precipitation in the mountains. Temperatures will rise locally notably in the southeast; in the rest, maximums unchanged and minimums rising. Winds from the west, moderate with strong intervals and very strong gusts on the Mediterranean coast and interior of the eastern third, and light to moderate in the rest.

Canary Islands: Clear skies. Calima affecting all islands, especially midlands of the mountainous southeast. Minimum temperatures with few changes, or slight increase in southern slopes of the central islands. Maximums will rise, notably in inland areas. On the coasts, winds will be light to moderate from the east. In midlands and peaks, moderate winds from the southeast, with intervals of strong in the early hours.