Walter Finch
THOSE gearing up for Semana Santa in Andalucia should brace themselves for another bout of potentially wet weather, according to early forecasts.
The online weather portal Eltiempo.es has issued a preliminary prediction suggesting a ‘slightly more rainy’ Holy Week for the southern Iberian Peninsula.
The week-long religious celebration, running from April 13 (Palm Sunday) to April 20 (Easter Sunday), may see increased rainfall across several regions.
The most affected areas are likely to include the Costa del Sol and the rest of Andalucia, Murcia, the Canary Islands, southern parts of Castilla-La Mancha, Extremadura, and the Valencia Community.
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However, local meteorological experts are urging caution.
Jesus Riesco, director of the Malaga Meteorological Centre, has reminded people that long-term forecasts more than three weeks in advance lack scientific reliability.
“It’s too early to make a precise prediction,” Riesco warns.
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The only definitive statistic available is the average rainfall for Malaga in April, which typically measures 44 litres per square metre.
Last year’s Semana Santa was a total washout, disappointing hundreds of religious brotherhoods across the country.
The 2024 celebrations, held in late March, were among the rainiest in recent years.
Out of over 40 religious brotherhoods in Malaga city, only 22 managed to process through the streets, with the city experiencing an unprecedented 90mm of rainfall.
As a contrast, the current forecast suggests temperatures will remain typical for April, with slight variations expected in the Balearic and Canary Islands.
Locals can take some comfort in the current warm spell. Temperatures have been climbing, with coastal areas reaching up to 26 degrees, driven by the warm terral wind.
Cities like Velez-Malaga have already recorded highs of 24.C , with Coín close behind at 23.4C .
The weekend forecast predicts temperatures around 26C, with expectations of a drop to 20C on the coast and 16C inland in the coming week.
No rainfall is predicted for the remainder of March or early next week.
Weather forecasts remain subject to change, and residents are advised to check updated predictions closer to Holy Week.
Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that this month is now the wettest March in Madrid since 1893.
