Weather warnings have been issued for Spain holiday hotspots like Malaga, Alicante and Mallorca while Ireland enjoys a ‘mini-heatwave’.
Spain’s State Meteorological Agency, Aemet, has issued a spate of alerts for rain, wind and even snow over the coming days.
It will come as bad news for Irish holidaymakers, as Ireland enjoys a rare ‘mini-heatwave’ with sunny skies and temperatures of up to 17C - making it hotter than many popular Spanish resorts.
READ MORE: Ireland to be hotter than Malaga as Met Eireann forecast exact date ‘mini-heatwave’ to end
In Spain, Status Yellow alerts for rain, gale-force winds and high waves affect much of the east coast with Almet warning that up to 120 mm of rain could fall within 48 hours while gale-force winds could result in waves up to 3 metres high.
Holiday hotspots Malaga, Marbella, Murcia, Alicante, Ibiza and Mallorca are all included in these alerts, which are in place until Thursday.
A more severe Status Orange rain warning affects the areas of Ronda, Sol and Guadalhorce, which are located just above Marbella and Malaga, where up to 80mm of rain is forecast to fall within 12 hours.
Snow warnings have also been issued for inland parts of Spain with Sistema Central de Avila and Norte de Caceres to the west and Gudar and Maestrazgo to the east affected. The Status Yellow alert is for accumulations of up to 15mm.
Meanwhile, Ireland is enjoying some spring sunshine, with blue skies and warm temperatures.
Met Eireann says the country can expect “very mild” temperatures and “long spells of sunshine” with the good weather set to stay right through to the end of the weekend thanks to a big area of high pressure.
A heatwave in Ireland is defined as five consecutive days where maximum temperatures are 5C above the average. With the average March high temperature of 12C it looks like Ireland could be in for an early Spring heatwave.
Giving its forecast for Wednesday, the national forecaster said: “Dry across most areas on Wednesday, again with long spells of hazy sunshine. Highest temperatures will once again range from a pleasant 13C to 17C, best values inland and across the west, all in mostly light southeasterly breezes.
“Wednesday night will be dry and mostly clear. Lowest temperatures of 3C or 4C with light variable or southerly winds. Grass frost will form in parts with mist and fog patches around dawn.”
Looking ahead to later this week, Met Eireann continued: “Thursday and Friday will be dry with good spells of sunshine and light winds. Highest temperatures ranging from 13C at the east and south coasts to 17C inland. Turning cold again after dark with some frost and fog patches.”
Giving its forecast for the weekend, it said: “Current indications suggest high pressure remains in charge through to the end of the weekend and it will continue mainly dry and sunny for Saturday and Sunday with light variable or easterly breezes.
“Highest temperatures generally of 13C to 16C and turning cold at night with grass frosts.”
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