Winter storms in Spain leave homes isolated and one person missing

More snow, heavy winds and freezing temperatures are expected across the peninsula on Tuesday as winter storms continue to batter Spain.

Schools were closed on Monday in Lugo and Ourense due to heavy snowfall, which also saw the northwestern region of Galicia cut off from the rest of the country for an hour on Sunday. Five people had to be rescued after their vehicles became stranded on the roads of Ourense province.

Over 100 reports of minor incidents caused by falling objects were reported in Seville

Forecasters predict temperatures in many areas of Castilla-León region will fall below 0°C by Tuesday morning. Heavy snowfall is also expected in the northern regions of Asturias and Cantabria while strong winds will continue through the northwest part of the peninsula and reach the Balearic Islands by midday.

In villages near Vigo, rising waters from nearby rivers flooded the streets and forced firefighters to go out on rescue missions by boat.

In the northern region of Cantabria, one person was dragged into the sea by a wave in the coastal town of Castro Urdiales, while authorities in the Andalusian town of Tarifa, southern Spain, were forced to close the port because of strong winds.

In the Andalusian capital of Seville alone, there were more than 100 reports of minor incidents caused by falling objects, including tree branches. In Huelva, two people were injured, including one minor.

Snowfall in northern Spain is expected to reach up to 50 centimeters in parts of Asturias and Cantabria, where authorities have issued a red warning for extremely risky conditions.

Temperatures are expected to fall across most of the country, particularly in the northeast and in eastern Andalusia, where highs will not surpass 5ºC. Lows of under -10ºC could be recorded in northern mountain areas.

Strong winds are expected to blow across much of the peninsula and the Balearic Islands.

The cold air front that entered the peninsula on Saturday has brought the snow line down to between 600 and 800 meters above sea level, and even lower in the north, the national weather service reported.

English version by Susana Urra.

El temporal causa destrozos en Galicia y un desaparecido en Cantabria