Why there is snow in Murcia, Alicante or Valencia? – Hypertext

Snow in Murcia. Source: AEMET.

The most skeptics argued that the low temperatures were typical of winter and that means, once again, exaggerating. But the arrival of the cold has left striking images. Sub-zero temperatures, hail in Valencia and snow in Murcia -something that happened 34 years ago – are the consequences of a phenomenon that will last at least until tomorrow, Friday, January 20.

According to the State Agency of Meteorology, a cold wave is an “episode of at least three consecutive days, at least 10% of the stations considered recorded minimum below the percentile of 5% of the series of minimum temperatures daily for the months of January and February for the period 1971-2000″. Although it is normal that in winter it gets cold, it is not so much that snow or there may be hail in the south and east of the mainland, or even in the Balearic islands. Why this situation occurs, this weather?

The cold wave is caused by the entry of a mass of polar air of continental origin, that is causing frosts generalised and maximum temperatures which do not exceed 5 ° C in the whole Peninsula. In the mountain areas, the Pyrenees and Iberian System, the minimum hovering around 10 ° C and can drop below-15OC. This flow of air began to acquire the early hours of yesterday, “a major component to this,” according to the AEMET, which causes it to be moist enough to lead to precipitation in the Balearic islands and the south-east of the Peninsula.

Forecast risk during the Thursday, January 19, according to the AEMET.

Forecast of the AEMET for Friday, January 20th

This situation, which began yesterday morning, is intensifying today, Thursday, January 19, with snowy significant in these regions. Although the elevation of snow yesterday was very low, which made nevase even on the coast, today will be increase until reach first 300-500 meters to be placed then in the 600-800 meters. According to the information of the AEMET, “expect snow accumulations of up to 25 cm in thickness in 24 hours in areas south of Valencia and north of Alicante, being also important the snow accumulations in other areas of the Communities of Valencia and Murcia, east of Castilla-La Mancha and north of Almeria.

as of Friday the 20th of January, the cold wave will begin to send given that the temperatures will be easing gradually. It also will significantly increase the level of snow in the southeast peninsula and in the Balearic islands, which will end up these images so winter in parts of the east coast of spain. However, the AEMET warning that the snow may refer in these regions and extend towards the centre of the peninsula. Starting on Saturday, the expected risk in the area of the Levante and the Balearic Islands will be by rain, wind and coastal. Thus will end a cold spell, without any relationship with the climate change, has left us numerous photographs to remember.