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A stormy start with heavy rain and flooding risks in the east before high pressure brings calmer, sunnier weather

 

Spain opens the week facing an unsettled weather pattern, largely driven by the remnants of ex-hurricane Gabrielle combined with a cold upper trough. This will bring intense and prolonged rainfall to the eastern third of the Iberian Peninsula, with heavy thunderstorms and significant flooding risks. The rest of the country will see a mix of cloud, showers, and clearer spells. Relief and more stable weather are expected from midweek as high pressure builds.

 

 

Widespread heavy rain and thunderstorms dominate the Mediterranean coast, Balearic Islands, and southern and central peninsular zones. Torrential downpours are likely in the Valencian Community and southern Tarragona, with accumulations potentially exceeding 180 litres per square metre. The extreme rainfall has led to red and orange warnings being issued in the Valencian Community, where authorities have suspended classes and closed municipal parks, urging residents to avoid travel and stay alert for flooding. Inland eastern areas will see notable drops in maximum temperatures, contrasting with rising highs on the southern Atlantic slope. Elsewhere, the Cantabrian coast and parts of the northern Canary Islands remain cloudy with light scattered showers, while the rest of Spain experiences drier and clearer spells. Winds vary from westerly and southwesterly near the south and east coasts to northerly and easterly over much of the peninsula, with gusty coastal conditions in places.

 

 

Instability holds across the eastern peninsula and Balearic Islands, with continued heavy showers and thunderstorms likely, some very heavy and persistent along the coast and especially in the Valencian Community. Flood alerts remain in place, alongside ongoing school closures and public safety warnings. The rest of southeastern Spain, Ceuta, and Melilla will see scattered showers mostly in the afternoons, while the northwest half of the country enjoys more settled, sunny conditions with occasional early low clouds. Temperatures rise slightly in many inland parts of the peninsula but tend to hold steady or dip slightly in the islands. Winds continue moderate from the north and east in eastern and coastal areas, lighter elsewhere.

 

 

The situation begins to improve, although the eastern side of the peninsula and the Balearic Islands remain under some influence of the upper-level cold trough, keeping showers and thunderstorms possible but less intense. Afternoon convective clouds may trigger local showers in southeastern mountains and eastern inland zones. Anticyclonic conditions dominate the rest of Spain, with mostly clear skies and only some morning low cloud in Catalonia and the Strait. The Canary Islands experience a mix of cloud and bright spells, with light rain possible in northern slopes. Temperatures generally rise inland, with maximums creeping upwards and minimums stabilising or gently rising in western areas. Light to moderate easterly winds prevail in coastal and northern regions, with lighter winds inland.

 

 

High pressure becomes the main influence as it expands from central Europe, bringing calm and mostly sunny weather to the Iberian Peninsula and Canary Islands. Morning low clouds may linger in the far north and along Mediterranean coasts, where moist air can bring patchy, light rain, especially central and northern Mediterranean shores and western Alborán coast. The Balearic Islands see intervals of cloud. In the Canaries, moist subtropical air may cause cloudy conditions or isolated light showers mostly in the eastern islands. Temperatures rise slightly inland, especially around the Ebro valley and Cantabrian interior, while the Mediterranean and Balearics experience slight cooling. Winds remain moderate easterly and northerly in coastal zones, light and variable inland.

 

 

After several days of heavy rain and stormy weather across eastern Spain, conditions are set to improve steadily through midweek as drier air pushes in, allowing October to start brighter and more settled.

 

 

 

Images: Aemet