SPAIN is set for a dramatic ‘whiplash’ weather event this week as temperatures surge into the mid-30Cs before a weekend DANA brings storms, heavy rain and possible blood rain to parts of the country.
Weather experts say the country will go from one extreme to the other in a matter of days, after some parts of Spain saw unusually cold weather and even snowfall last weekend.
According to forecasters at Meteored, hot air moving in from Africa will push temperatures as high as 38C or 39C in some inland areas later this week.
The heat will also bring tropical nights, with temperatures staying above 20C overnight in some southern and coastal regions.
But from Friday, a DANA weather system is expected to move towards Spain from the Atlantic.
A DANA is an isolated pocket of cold air high in the atmosphere which can create unstable weather and sudden heavy storms when it clashes with warm air below.
Meteorologists say the combination of intense heat, warm sea temperatures and incoming cold air could help storms rapidly develop over the weekend.
Current forecasts suggest the north and west of Spain are most likely to see heavy showers and thunderstorms between Saturday and Monday.
READ MORE: Get ready to sizzle: Spain braces for first major heatwave of the year with highs of 38C
Some storms could become locally severe, although experts say it is still too early to know exactly where the heaviest rain will fall.
The weather setup may also pull Saharan dust across Spain, creating so-called blood rain, where rain mixes with desert sand and leaves muddy deposits behind.
Cars, terraces and streets could end up coated in reddish dust if the phenomenon occurs.
READ MORE: Spain records warmest April on record with average temperature more than 3C higher than normal
Southern and eastern parts of Spain currently appear less likely to be affected by the worst of the storms.
Forecasters stressed that a DANA does not always mean dangerous flooding, although these systems are often associated with Spain’s strongest rain events.
Weather models are expected to become clearer over the next few days as the storm system approaches the peninsula.
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