Arctic cold front grips Andalusia: Temperatures plummet to -4°C as Sierra Nevada prepares for ski season opening

Andalusia is set to experience the peak of an exceptional cold snap this weekend as a large mass of Arctic polar air, which began impacting the region on Monday, brings winter temperatures. The dramatic thermal plunge across the eight Andalusian provinces will reach its climax between Friday and the weekend.

Forecasters predict the lowest temperatures will be registered around Huescar, in the northeast of Granada province, where the mercury is expected to drop to as low as -4°C on Saturday.

Inland Andalucia to feel cold snap most

Saturday is forecast to be the coldest day of the weekend across the region. Among the provincial capitals, Granada will register the lowest values, hitting just 1°C on Friday night with maximums only reaching 13°C. These low figures will continue throughout the weekend, with a slight rise in maximum values on Sunday. The cold will also be felt intensely in Jaen (high 11°C/low 3°C) and Cordoba (high 14°C/low 3°C) on Saturday. Sevilla, for its part, will see a maximum of 17°C and a minimum of 6°C overnight.

Coastal capitals will enjoy slightly milder conditions, though the temperature drop remains notable. Malaga’s maximum will not exceed 17°C on Saturday, with nighttime temperatures staying around 10°C. Almeria expects one degree less in both values. Cadiz will see 19°C during the day and 9°C at dawn on Saturday. The exception to the coastal mildness is Huelva, where maximums will be somewhat cooler, and the overnight drop could be considerable, reaching just 4°C in the early hours of Sunday.

The cold will be most pronounced in inland areas. Temperatures could drop below zero during weekend nights in parts of Ronda and Antequera, Málaga. Similarly, in environments like the Sierra de Grazalema (Cadiz), Sierra de Aroche (Huelva), towns near the Sierra de Cazorla (Jaen), and municipalities close to Sierra Nevada (Almeria), temperatures are expected to hover around 0°C.

Sierra Nevada ski resort update

The snowfall and cold conditions are a welcome sight for fans of winter sports in the region. The Sierra Nevada Ski Resort in southern Spain is scheduled to open for the 2025/26 season on November 29, weather and snow conditions permitting. The date has already been confirmed by recent announcements from the resort operator Cetursa, which has activated snow-making operations to prepare the slopes following early-season snowfall from Storm Claudia. The season is projected to run through April 26.