As we find ourselves in the middle of January, the Canary Islands seem to have shrugged off the notion of winter in 2024. The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) confirms a noticeable increase in temperatures that is making the islands feel more like a haven of warmth than a winter destination.
According to Aemet, maximum temperatures in the Canary Islands are expected to rise by up to four degrees during the week, with a possibility of light haze in the region.
In specific areas such as La Orotava in Tenerife, Las Palmas de Gran Canarias, and Mogán, the thermometers are projected to reach, and possibly exceed, 26 degrees Celsius by Thursday. Mogán, in particular, is set to hit 28 degrees on Saturday.
Meanwhile, minimum temperatures in the Canary Islands have already begun to climb, and this warming trend is expected to continue until Saturday.
However, while the Canary Islands enjoy this mild and sunny weather, a contrasting weather pattern is impacting other parts of Spain. A total of six autonomous communities, including Aragon, the Balearic Islands, Castile and Leon, Catalonia, Madrid, and Valencia, are facing potential risks from strong winds, waves, and cold temperatures.
WINTER: A WAVE OF COLD IN SPAIN
Some regions like Huesca, León, Segovia, Zamora, Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Madrid could experience minimum temperatures as low as -6°C. Additionally, strong gusts of wind may affect Castellón, Girona, and Tarragona with maximum gusts of up to 80 km/h. Coastal areas such as Castellón, Mallorca, Ibiza, Formentera, Tarragona, Girona, and Menorca are under a swell alert, with waves potentially reaching up to six meters.
Overall, the AEMET forecasts the withdrawal of an Atlantic flow from the northwest in the Peninsula, followed by the approach of an Atlantic front from the west. This weather pattern is expected to result in cloudy skies in the north of the peninsula, with light rainfall in the eastern Cantabrian Sea. Precipitation may also occur in the Pyrenees and nearby areas. However, it is expected to be less intense and less likely than in previous days.
In the rest of the Peninsula, the day will begin with cloudy intervals in the northeastern center and fewer clouds elsewhere. The approach of an Atlantic front will increase cloudiness from west to east, potentially leading to precipitation in the southwest quadrant, especially in Huelva and Extremadura.
In the Balearic Islands, there may be occasional showers in the east of the archipelago due to a Mediterranean squall, while the Canary Islands can expect cloudy intervals and high clouds, with isolated showers possible in the mountains.
In terms of snowfall, significant amounts are expected in the Pyrenees at any altitude, as well as in other northeastern mountainous regions around 400/800 meters, the northwest at 600/900 meters in the Cantabrian Mountains, and in the Sierra Nevada at 1,600/2,000 meters.
Maximum temperatures are anticipated to rise in the Canary Islands and the southern regions of the Peninsula, the Pre-Pyrenees, and the Cantabrian Mountains. In contrast, temperatures are expected to decrease slightly in the rest of the areas, with a more pronounced drop in the central northern plateau. Minimum temperatures will rise in the Canary Islands and the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula, while falling slightly in other regions, particularly in the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula, Levante, and the Balearic Islands.
