AEMET warns of a weekend weather shift across parts of Spain

If you’ve got plans outdoors this weekend, you’ll probably want the sunscreen close by.

After a few slightly cooler days in parts of Spain, temperatures are climbing again and some of the country’s hottest spots could be back near 40C over the next couple of days. That’s the good news if you’re heading to the beach.

The less predictable part of the forecast arrives later in the day.

AEMET says clouds are expected to build across parts of inland Spain from Saturday onwards, bringing the possibility of showers and thunderstorms in some areas while much of the country continues to bake under summer sunshine.

It’s the kind of forecast that can leave two places just a few kilometres apart having completely different afternoons. One enjoying clear blue skies, the other suddenly watching dark clouds roll in.

The heat is making a comeback

For anyone who thought the recent dip in temperatures might last a little longer, the latest forecast says otherwise.

Friday, June 12 marks the start of another warm-up across much of Spain. The increase will be particularly noticeable in northern areas, where temperatures are expected to jump compared with earlier this week.

Further south, familiar names appear once again on the list of hottest places in the country.

Seville, Córdoba and Badajoz are all expected to see temperatures approaching 40C, while many other areas remain well above what would normally be expected for mid-June.

Along the Mediterranean coast, conditions look ideal for beachgoers, with plenty of sunshine and rising temperatures through Saturday.

In parts of Galicia and the Cantabrian coast, some locations could see temperatures several degrees higher than they were only a few days ago.

Why the forecast changes after lunch

The interesting part of this weekend’s forecast is not really the heat. It’s what may happen afterwards.

AEMET expects growing cloud development across inland parts of the peninsula from Saturday afternoon. As temperatures peak, the atmosphere becomes more unstable, creating conditions that can trigger showers and thunderstorms.

The north-west and inland areas are currently the most likely places to see this happen.

That doesn’t mean a washout weekend, far from it. Actually, many places will stay dry and sunny. But some towns could see a quick burst of heavy rain, thunder and gusty winds before conditions improve again.

It’s a fairly typical June pattern in Spain. Hot mornings, very warm afternoons and the occasional storm bubbling up as the day goes on.

Next week could be more unsettled

While the weekend forecast remains largely positive for most of the country, meteorologists are paying closer attention to Monday, June 15.

Forecast models suggest cooler air arriving higher up in the atmosphere could help thunderstorms become more widespread across inland Spain.

Mountain areas including the Pyrenees, the Cantabrian range, the Central System and parts of Galicia are among the places most likely to see activity first.

Later in the day, storms could spread into other inland regions, including parts of Madrid, Extremadura and Andalusia. Some could bring strong gusts of wind and localised hail, although it’s still too early to know exactly where the strongest storms will develop.

For now, though, the weekend story remains fairly simple : Spain is heading back into serious summer heat.

Just don’t be surprised if some inland areas hear a rumble of thunder before the weekend is over.