Spain hit by surprise winter comeback as polar air freezes May temperatures

People across Spain who had already switched to spring clothes and started planning beach weekends may want to grab their jackets again. Forecasters are warning that a cold weather system carrying polar air will send temperatures tumbling across much of the country over the next few days, with some areas expected to feel unusually cold for May.

In parts of inland Spain, daytime temperatures this weekend may struggle to get much higher than 10 to 15 degrees. Meteorologists say values could fall between 8 and 10 degrees below what is normally expected at this time of year, creating conditions that feel much closer to late March than early May.

Rain, cold air and even mountain snow returning to Spain

The change has already started to appear in parts of the country.

While some areas briefly enjoyed calmer weather in the middle of the week, instability is now building again as a new Atlantic system approaches the Peninsula. According to forecasts from AEMET and Meteored, showers are expected to become more widespread over the coming days, especially across northern and inland regions.

Rain is likely in Castilla y León, Galicia, the Cantabrian coast, parts of the Valencian Community and areas of the southeast, while the Balearic Islands could also see unsettled conditions.

At higher altitudes, snow is expected to return to mountain areas including parts of the Pyrenees and the Cantabrian range. Snowfall is forecast above roughly 1,500 to 1,800 metres.

There is also a chance of muddy rain in some central and eastern areas because of dust particles mixing with incoming rainfall.

The weather shift feels particularly abrupt because many parts of Spain had already started seeing warmer spring conditions in recent weeks.

The coldest temperatures are expected this weekend

The biggest drop is forecast to arrive during the weekend, when colder air from the north Atlantic pushes further south across the country.

Meteorologists say the system is pulling maritime polar air from areas close to Iceland, helping reinforce the colder conditions across much of inland Spain.

The areas expected to notice it most are the northern plateau and regions around the central mountain system. In some places, daytime highs may remain between 10 and 15 degrees even during the warmest part of the afternoon.

In mountain zones, rain, wind and low cloud could make it feel even colder.

Meanwhile, southern Spain and Mediterranean coastal areas are expected to avoid the harshest temperatures, although even there conditions may still end up cooler than average for May.

Cities such as Seville, Malaga and Murcia are likely to stay milder than the north and centre of the country, but forecasters still expect a noticeable cooling compared to recent days.

Why this weather feels so strange for May

Part of the reason this forecast is attracting attention is timing.

By early May, many people in Spain already expect warmer afternoons, outdoor dining and the start of pre summer weather. Instead, some inland areas are preparing for a weekend that could feel surprisingly cold.

The contrast is especially noticeable after periods of warmer weather earlier in spring. In many places, people had already packed away heavier clothing or started making outdoor plans expecting more stable conditions.

Now, the conversation has suddenly shifted back to rain, cold mornings and heating.

For businesses that rely on spring tourism, especially inland rural tourism and terrace bars, the colder weather may also affect what is usually one of the busiest times of the season.

Travellers may notice very different conditions across Spain

One of the challenges with this forecast is how different conditions may feel depending on location.

Someone spending the weekend in northern or central Spain could face cold rain, grey skies and temperatures closer to winter than spring. Meanwhile, people on parts of the Mediterranean coast may still see brighter periods and milder afternoons despite the overall drop.

That difference could catch some travellers off guard, particularly tourists arriving with expectations of warm May weather everywhere in Spain.

Weather experts are advising people to keep an eye on local forecasts because conditions may change quickly from one region to another. Thunderstorms are also possible in some inland and mountainous areas as the unstable air moves across the Peninsula.

Spain’s spring weather still has surprises left

Although unusual, cold snaps in May are not impossible in Spain. Spring often brings sharp contrasts, especially when Atlantic systems interact with warmer air already in place.

Still, this drop stands out because of how widespread it is expected to become and because it arrives just as many people were mentally moving into summer mode.

For now, forecasts suggest the colder pattern will dominate through much of the weekend before conditions gradually begin stabilising again.

Until then, Spain looks set for a few days that feel much more like the end of winter than the start of summer.