Irish holidaymakers heading to Spain for the bank holiday weekend are being warned to expect unsettled weather from Storm Benjamin.
A group of people walk with difficulty as a storm batters Spanish eastern coast in Valencia (file photo)(Image: JOSE JORDAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Irish holidaymakers heading to Spain for the bank holiday weekend may need to swap their beach towels for raincoats as the country braces for stormy and unsettled weather.
While Spain is known for its sunny climate, weather warnings for strong winds and high waves issued by national forecaster AEMET have raised concerns for holidaymakers – especially those jetting off to some popular tourist destinations along the coast and on the islands.
Storm Benjamin, which has officially been named by the French weather service Meteo France, is already making its presence felt. Today, much of southeast Spain is under Status Yellow and Status Orange weather warnings. The alerts suggest ferocious wind gusts of up to 90km/h are possible, as well as high waves topping 7 metres.
Several resorts that are hugely popular with Irish tourists are impacted by the warnings, including Barcelona, Tarragona, Cambrils, Valencia, San Sebastian and Santander on the mainland, as well as the Balearic Islands – Ibiza, Palma and Menorca.
While today will bring the brunt of the storm, AEMET has warned that soggy, windy and cooler weather could continue all weekend.
A spokesperson said: “Storm Benjamin will bring very strong wind gusts to the eastern Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands on Thursday, as well as very strong storms along the Cantabrian coast. On Friday, there will be light rain inland and central Iberia.
“Saturday will see persistent rain with heavy daily accumulation inland northern Spain, and temperatures will drop in the north. On Sunday, showers are likely in the Spanish mainland and the Balearic Islands. Temperatures will drop in the Balearic Islands, central Spain, and southern Spain.”
Irish holidaymakers are being urged to monitor local forecasts, follow official guidance and plan accordingly.
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