The Spanish State Meteorological Agency AEMET has issued a series of warnings ahead of a significant weather change set to occur over the weekend. Yellow alerts have been declared in many areas of the country, from the Canary Islands to the northern coast. The warnings primarily concern strong winds, which on the coasts may cause maritime phenomena, as well as dense fog and suspended dust. Across Spain, a drop in temperatures and periodic rainfall is expected, heralding the end of the mild and dry spell.
Yellow alerts in many areas
AEMET has introduced yellow alerts for numerous regions, including the Canary Islands (e.g., Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Telde, Santa Lucía de Tirajana), the Balearic Islands (Palma, Manacor), and parts of the Iberian Peninsula. The warnings concern strong winds, dangerous coastal phenomena, and dense fog, which may hinder transport and daily functioning.
Significant cooling and precipitation
From Saturday, a noticeable drop in temperatures will occur across the country, ending the period of stable and warm weather. Intermittent rainfall is also forecast. This sudden cooling is related to the arrival of an active atmospheric front, which is changing the high-pressure system over the Iberian Peninsula.
Detailed local forecasts
The agency is publishing very detailed forecasts for dozens of cities across all of Spain, from major metropolises like Barcelona or Madrid, to smaller towns like Calahorra or Gandia. The bulletins are tailored to the specifics of each region, indicating the extensive nature of the incoming weather phenomena.
Coastal hazards and fog
Besides wind, the main hazards are coastal phenomena, which may pose a danger to shipping and coastal infrastructure, and dense fog limiting visibility, especially in the Balearic Islands and Mediterranean regions. Suspended dust in the Canary Islands further worsens conditions.
Spanish meteorological services are facing a significant change in weather conditions, which is set to end a period of stable and relatively mild weather in the country over the weekend. Agency AEMET, responsible for official forecasts and warnings, has issued a series of yellow-level alerts for many regions. The latest bulletins, published on Friday, February 27, indicate the arrival of an active atmospheric front, which will bring widespread cooling and precipitation. Particular attention is being paid to coastal areas, where strong winds are expected, potentially causing dangerous maritime phenomena, and to foggy regions, where visibility will deteriorate sharply. Yellow alerts indicate potential risk to activities and citizen safety. In the Canary Islands, in towns such as Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Telde, and Santa Lucía de Tirajana, warnings concern wind, suspended dust, and coastal phenomena. In the Balearic Islands, in Palma de Mallorca and Manacor, alerts have been declared due to dense fog. Simultaneously, AEMET is publishing dozens of detailed local forecasts for practically every corner of Spain, from major cities like Barcelona, Madrid, Bilbao, or Valladolid, to smaller centers such as Sabadell, Gandia, Zamora, or Calahorra. This scale of communication underscores that the weather change will be nationwide, though with varying intensity of individual phenomena. The Spanish meteorological warning system, managed by AEMET, has been operating for decades and is a key element of crisis management in a country exposed to extreme weather phenomena, from droughts to flash floods. The alert system (green, yellow, orange, red) is widely recognized and used by emergency services, local authorities, and the media. The main effect of the incoming front will be a noticeable drop in temperatures across all of Spain. Madrid, which still recorded relatively mild conditions on Friday, is preparing for cooling ahead of expected precipitation. A similar scenario awaits northern regions, such as Cantabria with Santander, Galicia with A Coruña and Santiago de Compostela, or the Basque Country with San Sebastián and Bilbao. On the eastern coast, in the area of Barcelona, Tarragona, or Girona, worsening weather is also forecast. Besides wind and rain, locally strong fog may be a problem, as in the case of Manacor in Mallorca, where visibility may drop to dangerous levels. Citizens are encouraged to follow AEMET bulletins and prepare for more difficult atmospheric conditions, which may affect road traffic, ferry services, and outdoor activities in the coming days.