Siberian front expected in Spain over the weekend

The cold snap that has swept across Europe this week, leaving many fatalities in Poland and Ukraine in its wake, is expected to exert its grip on Spain until Sunday, the state meteorological agency said.

The eastern coasts, the central belt and the Balearics are forecast to be worst affected, with temperatures dropping to between -5 and -10 degrees Celsius. A biting easterly wind will shave a further few degrees off recorded temperatures while in mountainous areas the lowest point could be in the higher double figures. In the northern and central regions on Saturday and Sunday it is unlikely that the mercury will creep past zero degrees.

A yellow alert has been put in place in the Cantabrian and central sierras, with snowfall of up to six centimeters forecast, rising to 16 centimeters in the Pyrenees. Burgos, León, Palencia, Soria, Barcelona, Girona and Castellón are included in the alert, with rain and snow expected to extend into La Rioja, Álava, Bizkaia and Asturias.