Snowfall blankets many areas of Spain just in time for Christmas: Affected areas

ALONG with the arrival of a polar cold front in Spain, many areas of the country are seeing plummeting temperatures and even snow to welcome the holiday season. The Spanish State Meteorological Agency, or AEMET, had previously advised citizens of a new mass of polar air sweeping across the country, bringing rain and snowfall to many parts of Spain, but now many areas including Almeria and Mallorca are feeling the full force of the cold front and have been blanketed in snow, just in time for Christmas.

Andalucia

Andalucia has seen much of the snowfall on Monday, December 22, with heavy snowfall closing two roads in Almeria and Granada. Higher inland areas of Almeria have seen the brunt of the snowfall, accompanied by a storm with intense rainfall that hit many parts of the region on Sunday, December 21.

The village of Grazalema, also located in Andalucia, has received significant snowfall in the high mountain range areas, and the snow has also passed through Cabra, the Torcal de Antequera, and the Sierra de Cazorla and Segura.

The Balearic Islands

The Balearic Island of Mallorca, typically known for its sunny beaches and fabulous island lifestyle, has also been blanketed in snow in the higher altitudes of the island. Snow has covered the summit of Mallorca’s Puig Major, the highest summit of the Serra de Tramuntana, on the morning of Monday, December 22. The snow in Mallorca was also accompanied by heavy rainfall and winter storms that have passed through much of Spain.

Valencia

Though Valencia has received no reports of snowfall as of yet, snow is expected to hit small parts of the community within the next few hours, with cold front temperatures reaching -3 or -4°C at 1,500 metres, and even down to -30°C at an altitude of 5,500 metres. Rainfall is also expected in parts of the community.

Community of Madrid

The Spanish capital has also been warned by AEMET of rain and snowfall, potentially leading to road closures, frost, morning fog, and dangerous driving conditions. Temperatures have plummeted to below freezing in Madrid, Alcalá de Henares, Navalcarnero, Boadilla del Monte, and Collado Villalba, and reached 0 degrees Celsius in Getafe and Aranjuez.

Castilla y Leon

Avila, located in the province of Castilla y Leon, is one of the regions where it has snowed the most in Spain between Sunday, December 21 and Monday, December 22. Further snowfall is expected into Tuesday in Gredos, Sierra de Villafranca, Valle del Corneja, Aravalle and Sierra de Avila; snowfall could reach the main city of Avila as well, according to the forecast.

Segovia has also been blanketed in snow on the morning of Monday, both in the capital of the area and in Espirdo.

Snowfall in Segovia. Video Credit: @meteosegovia / X

Pyrenees Mountain Range

Not surprisingly, the famed Pyrenees mountain range stretching across much of the Iberian Peninsula has also received a significant amount of snowfall, with more than 20 centimetres of snow recorded. Heavy snowfall has turned the mountainous areas of Spain into a winter wonderland, with trees blanketed and powdery snow falling endlessly from the sky.

Snowfall in the Pyrenees. Video Credit: @alexmegapc / X

A magical white Christmas in much of Spain … but AEMET warns to prepare for harsh cold

In many of the higher altitude locations in Spain, the next few days may forecast a magical white Christmas and a chance to build an adorable snowman. However, meteorologists warn that December 24 and 25 will be very cold in virtually all of Spain and especially in the northern part of the country, for which residents, no matter the altitude, should bundle up accordingly to protect from harsh temperatures.

Read more news from Spain here.