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Cold Blast Grips Northern Spain as Avalanche Risk Rises and Passes Close

Forecasters expect a brief weekend warmup followed by a likely return of rain on Tuesday.

Overview

  • AEMET says this Christmas has been the coldest in about 15 years, driven by a strong cold-air mass.
  • Temperatures plunged to -12.9°C in Sierra Nevada and to -10.6°C in the Picos de Europa, with -8.3°C at Valgrande-Pajares and -8.9°C at Vega de Urriellu.
  • AEMET’s avalanche bulletin rates danger as notable for Friday in the Picos de Europa, easing to limited over the weekend, with 30–50 cm of snow and wind-formed slabs that can be triggered by a single person.
  • Asturian roads require chains at the San Isidro, Leitariegos and Connio passes, and access remains closed to the Lagos de Covadonga (CO-4) and the Tuiza–Cubilla stretch (LN-8).
  • Euskalmet recorded multiple subzero readings in Bizkaia (Urkiola -2.2°C, Otxandio -1.4°C) and in Álava (22 of 32 stations below zero, Puerto de Herrera -3.6°C), with temperatures forecast to rise Saturday–Sunday and a high chance of rain on Tuesday.