Storm Francis Triggers Broad Weather Alerts and Disruptions Across Spain
Storm Francis causes widespread snow, cold temperatures, road closures, evacuations, and event cancellations across numerous Spanish provinces.
- • Aemet issues yellow alerts for snow and cold in Almería and Granada with temperatures dropping to -4ºC.
- • 17 roads affected by snow with 7 closed; 12 secondary roads in Andalucía closed due to heavy rain.
- • 470 families evacuated in Cádiz due to rising water levels caused by the storm.
- • Traditional Epiphany parades canceled or rescheduled because of adverse weather conditions.
Key details
Storm Francis has prompted extensive weather alerts and significant disruptions throughout Spain, impacting dozens of provinces with snow, freezing temperatures, strong winds, and heavy rain.
On January 6, 2026, the Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (Aemet) issued yellow alerts for snow accumulation of up to 3 cm in Almería and Granada, with temperatures in Granada dropping to -4ºC. The storm is also causing strong coastal phenomena and gusty winds in Málaga, while less than 2 mm of snow is expected in southern Valencia and northern Alicante. Across Spain, 33 provinces remain under various weather alerts including snow, wind, and cold, with temperatures plunging as low as -5ºC in some areas.
The effects of the storm have led to the closure of multiple roads, including 17 affected by snow and 7 completely closed. Regions such as Salamanca, Barcelona, Tarragona, Navarra, Almería, and Granada have seen closures on specific roads like the DSA-191, BV-2204, C-241d, NA-2011, AL-5405, and A-395/A-4025. Heavy rain in Andalucía has also closed 12 secondary roads, heavily impacting municipalities in Cádiz and Málaga, including Rincones, Chiclana de la Frontera, Algeciras, Casarabonela, and Cártama. Authorities warn drivers to exercise extreme caution due to hazardous conditions on roads.
Civil Protection authorities in Catalonia have deactivated the snow alert after the peak snowfall but continue to caution the public about severe cold and potential icy road surfaces. Meanwhile, the Basque Government has activated a winter road plan responding to snow risks.
The storm's impact extends beyond transportation. Rising water levels in Cádiz necessitated the evacuation of 470 families. In addition, traditional Epiphany parades across the country have been canceled or rescheduled due to the unfavorable weather conditions.
Traffic authorities have issued orange-level warnings due to snowfall in Cantabria, Burgos, and Cataluña, with yellow alerts active in Galicia, Asturias, Castilla y León, La Rioja, Aragón, Comunidad Valenciana, Madrid, Murcia, Castilla-La Mancha, and eastern Andalucía. The ongoing weather event underscores serious challenges to public safety and mobility, with continued vigilance and preparedness essential as the storm persists.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
