Spain braces for 100km/h gusts and 10-metre waves as the polar jet stream arrives Wednesday

A gale warning has been issued for northern Spain as temperatures of 30°C are expected on the coast this week. The polar jet stream is strengthening over the North Atlantic, bringing heavy storms and high waves to western Europe, particularly affecting Galicia and the Cantabrian coast. While the south and Mediterranean remain mild, isolated waves of up to 10 meters may affect those coasts.

Galicia and the Cantabrian coast face gale-force winds, with exposed areas potentially experiencing gusts over 100km/h. Spain's state weather agency, AEMET, has issued a yellow coastal warning for Gipuzkoa coast, from 3am to noon on Wednesday, due to west or north-westerly winds of 50 to 61km/h. Rain is expected to follow the winds, with the heaviest in north-west Galicia and patchier across the rest of the north and the Balearics.

In contrast, the Mediterranean coast and southern Spain will experience milder temperatures, with maximums of 23°C to 25°C expected. The gap in temperatures between the north and south of the country is expected to be as much as 10 degrees. While the jet stream is not bringing freezing air from the North Pole, it is bringing high pressure and westerly winds, which are responsible for the stormy conditions.

Despite the name, a stronger polar jet stream does not mean freezing air is heading south from the North Pole. Instead, it brings high pressure and westerly winds. People in Spain are advised to keep an eye on AEMET's warnings before planning their trips along the north coast or between Spain and the UK.