Cristina Hodgson
AN intense cold blast has been forecast to spread across the Peninsula and the Balearic Islands.
After a few days of very warm and hot weather across Spain, typical of the time of year known as Veranillo de San Miguel (Indian Summer), a major weather pattern change has been predicted as of tomorrow, resulting in a chilly start to October.
The cause is a squall that will rapidly deepen from Thursday afternoon to Friday between the north of France and the British Isles and will spread across Spain.
The cold blast will bring a dramatic drop in temperature, wind and rough sea conditions.
Depending on the strength of the winds it may be considered the first storm of the season and will be named Alex.
According to Spanish weather agency AEMET the phenomenon will start to be felt from Thursday afternoon in the Cantabrian area, with posibility of snow in high areas of the Pyrenees and the Cantabrian mountain range.
Rough seas will affect the Spanish coastlines bringing strong to very strong gusts of wind across mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands.
As of Friday, intense rainfall is expected in Galicia, northwest Castilla y Leon, the Cantabrian coast and the western Pyrenees.
Yellow alerts for rough sea conditions have been activated for Thursday in Galicia and Asturias.
On Friday, a yellow alert has been activated for strong winds in the following 13 communities; Andalucia, Aragon, Asturias, Balearic Islands, Cantabria, Castilla y Leon, Castilla-La Mancha, Catalunya, Galicia, Madrid, Basque Country, La Rioja and Valencia as well as Melilla.
