Snow hits the region
Unsettled weather set to continue, according to AEMET
HEAVY snow fell in the Valencia region this week, leading to the closure of roads and schools.
The worst of the weather affected Valencia province and Castellón, while snow fell in the mountains of Alicante province.
With freezing air being channelled down from northern Europe on Tuesday, snow hit large swathes of the interior of the region when a low pressure crossed the country from the Atlantic and the two weather systems collided.
State weather agency AEMET published a detailed statement on Wednesday explaining how the adverse weather would affect the country for the following week.
They noted that a series of Atlantic fronts related to Storm Emma would cross the country from west to east with the situation lasting at least until Monday (March 5).
The meteorologists explained that cold air which brought snow to most of the country would be replaced by warmer air yesterday (Thursday).
As a result, the snow that fell on beaches in northern Spain on Wednesday morning would be restricted to mountainous areas for the remainder of the week.
Heavy and torrential rain associated with the Atlantic fronts would hit most of the country, they noted, but ‘ this would be less heavy and more sporadic’ along the Mediterranean coast of south-east Spain.
Their latest forecast shows the possibility of rain for the Costa Blanca area today (Friday), Sunday and Tuesday.
The abundant snow and subsequent rise in the temperature caused avalanches in some areas of the Pyrenees.
State news agency EFE reported that a 23-year-old ski instructor was killed on Wednesday at Formigal resort in Huesca when he was hit by an avalanche in an off-piste skiing area known as Tres Hombres.
In the Valencia region, schools were closed in Utiel, Requena and Venta del Moro, which lie to the west of Valencia city, due to the heavy snow.
On Tuesday in the south of Alicante province, the light rain brought some relief for farmers who are facing drought conditions, with seven litres per square metre (l/m2) of rain falling in Benferri, 3.2 l/m2 in Benijófar, and 2.4 l/m2 in Guardamar del Segura and Torrevieja.
In the mountains of Alicante province, further snow fell in the ranges of Aitana and Serrella – in the case of Aitana topping up snow which remained from the fall the previous week.
Low temperatures in inland areas of Murcia region damaged around 30% of the early fruit harvest and almond trees, according to the farmers associations.
The worst affected areas are Cieza, Abarán, Yecla, Calasparra, Moratalla and Caravaca de la Cruz.
Farmers' representatives said the problems were caused by early blooming of the trees.