Spain is bracing for significant changes to its weather patterns as Christmas approaches, promising to affect millions of travelers during the holiday season. According to La Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (Aemet), yellow warnings for coastal phenomena have been activated as high winds and waves are predicted for the Strait of Gibraltar and parts of Cadiz.
The agency has warned of east winds reaching between 50 to 61 kilometers per hour (force 7) starting Wednesday evening, particularly around Tarifa and out at sea. The yellow alert will be active from 21:00 until midnight, restarting at 03:00, with continued strong winds impacting travel plans.
Despite the alerts, this Christmas week is expected to feature stable atmospheric conditions across the majority of Spain, leading to predominantly clear skies. Aemet projects low precipitation levels but warns of potential frosts starting Wednesday, affecting multiple regions.
On Christmas Day, the weather is likely to remain stable over the Peninsula, though morning low clouds and persistent fogs could occur, particularly affecting parts of the north and interior areas like Lugo and La Mancha. Clear skies are anticipated elsewhere, except for some areas along the Mediterranean coast, where light rain might occur.
Temperatures are predicted to rise slightly, reducing the extent of frost across the nation. Although strong winds are expected initially, they will gradually ease, leading to calmer conditions. The Canary Islands will face instability, with possible heavy showers and thunderstorms on some days, stressing travelers even more.
Looking toward New Year’s celebrations, forecasts suggest the stable weather will likely hold, with similar morning low clouds and inland fog persisting. Again, light precipitation is possible on the Mediterranean side and the northwest regions of Spain may see wet weather due to incoming fronts.
The conditions do not appear to deter holiday travel patterns, as predictions from the DGT indicate over 20 million car trips during this festive season. Spanish citizens are favoring their vehicles as the primary mode of transport, surpassing alternatives like trains and planes. The increase of about 300,000 return journeys compared to last year reflects the strong preference for family gatherings and holiday festivities.
This year, both Christmas and New Year’s fall on Wednesdays, leading to extended travel periods, with three main phases of increased movement expected. The first phase, commencing December 20, reportedly logged approximately 6.7 million departures by Christmas Day. The second travel wave will see heightened movement from December 27 to January 1, culminating with returns following the Epiphany celebrations on January 6.
The DGT has prepared well, mapping out routes and ensuring safer travel for families who will be heading out to family gatherings across the country. Christmas remains one of Spain's most cherished times for family reunions, and the encouraging traffic predictions reflect the sentiment.
Should the weather turn harsher, especially around New Year’s, the authorities will likely recalibrate their preparations to accommodate travel disruptions. Overall, Aemet's optimistic forecast for relatively stable weather during this holiday season is expected to ease travelers’ concerns about severe weather but continues to encourage caution, especially for the coastal and inland areas prone to cold snaps.
