Arrival of DANA to the Gulf of Cadiz: Heavy Showers and Notable Temperature Drops Expected

A significant change in weather conditions is forecasted for the Iberian Peninsula as a DANA (Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos, or Isolated Depression at High Levels) is anticipated to make landfall in the Gulf of Cadiz this Thursday. According to the Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET), this atmospheric disturbance is expected to cross the peninsula, heading northeast towards Catalonia, bringing with it a trail of heavy showers and strong storms throughout Friday and Saturday.

DANAs are common meteorological phenomena in the Iberian Peninsula. They occur when a cold air mass breaks away from the general circulation of the atmosphere and becomes isolated over warmer sea or ocean waters. The contrast between the cold upper-level air and the warmer sea surface creates instability, leading to the formation of convective clouds and, consequently, heavy rainfall and thunderstorms.

Forecast for the Central and Northwestern Regions

According to AEMET, the first signs of the DANA will appear on Thursday morning with strong showers in the central strip of Andalusia, Extremadura, and the west of Castilla-La Mancha. By afternoon, the showers are expected to spread to other parts of the central and northwestern areas. Locally intense precipitation is expected in the interiors of Galicia, Leon, Zamora, and Salamanca.

The DANA is then predicted to continue its course on Friday, with abundant cloudiness and showers accompanied by thunderstorms, moving from south to north across a large part of the territory. Strong local precipitation is expected in the south (western Andalusia), center, interior northwest (Galicia, western Cantabrian cornice), northern Iberian system, and the upper Ebro. By late hours, the interior east, and southeast will be affected, generally remitting from the south. The showers will be locally accompanied by hail.

Forecast for Saturday

By Saturday, the DANA is projected to continue moving northeast and north, where it will cause heavy showers and strong storms. At the same time, a new Atlantic disturbance is expected to arrive, resulting in an unstable situation in the northern half of the peninsula. As such, cloudy skies with probable showers and storms are expected in the north, with the most intense showers in the north-eastern center. Specifically, locally strong showers are expected in the upper Ebro and north Iberia (Basque Country, Navarre, La Rioja, northern Aragon, Pyrenees, and northern Castilla and Leon), where there will be local hail.

The showers could also extend to the north and interior of Catalonia. Towards the south of the peninsula, the weather situation is expected to stabilize.

This phenomenon of DANA is not uncommon, yet it serves as a reminder of how much weather patterns can vary and impact our daily lives. The question then arises: How prepared are we, in our respective regions, to handle such sudden and drastic changes in weather?