Early November Cold Snap Brings Snow and Freezing Temperatures Across Spain
Spain faces an early November cold snap with heavy snow, plummeting temperatures, and widespread weather alerts across northern and coastal regions.
- • An early and severe cold snap has caused temperatures to drop nearly 10ºC below normal in Spain.
- • Orange and yellow weather alerts have been issued in 14 to 15 provinces for heavy snow and strong winds.
- • Snowfall accumulations between 5 and over 30 cm are expected, especially in northern mountainous regions.
- • Strong winds are generating maritime storms with high waves warned for Mediterranean coastal areas like Menorca and Girona.
Key details
Spain is currently experiencing an unusually early and intense cold snap this November 2025, with snowfalls and sharp temperature drops characteristic of mid-winter conditions. Temperatures have fallen dramatically, reaching nearly 10 degrees Celsius below the previous averages, with some areas, including the capital, seeing near-freezing temperatures around 0 ºC during early mornings.
Snow has already begun accumulating at elevations as low as 600 meters in northern regions such as Cantabria, the Basque Country, and Navarra. Weather authorities have issued widespread alerts, with orange warnings—the second highest alert level—activated in provinces like Asturias, Cantabria, León, Palencia, and Burgos due to expected snow depths exceeding 20-30 cm. On Friday, snowfall warnings expanded to 15 provinces, emphasizing Burgos, Navarra, and Asturias where accumulations between 5 and 25 cm are forecasted.
The Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET) also highlighted the presence of significant snow in northern mountain ranges including the Cantabrian, northern Iberian, and Pyrenees mountains, along with adjacent lowlands. Yellow alerts remain for snow across provinces such as Huesca, Zaragoza, and La Rioja, while coastal areas like Menorca, Tarragona, and Girona face wave and wind warnings, with Girona under an orange-level alert for sea conditions.
An Arctic air mass is driving this sudden cold front, essentially pushing Spain back to mid-winter weather levels two months ahead of schedule. Strong winds accompanying the cold front are expected to generate a maritime storm in the Mediterranean, further contributing to hazardous conditions at sea.
This cold spell is anticipated to be short-lived, with temperatures expected to rise and snowfall levels move higher by Sunday. However, meteorologists warn that the cold weather will return next week, bringing new snowfalls and continuing disruptions.
In summary, Spain is grappling with an early and intense cold wave marked by significant snowfall, cold temperatures, and maritime disturbances, prompting extensive weather warnings to safeguard residents and infrastructure. Authorities remain vigilant as the situation evolves with further weather impacts anticipated in the coming days.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.