Safeguard Your Journey: Essential Driving Weather in Spain from Monday 6 October

This week across Spain is generally set to be a period of relatively settled weather, particularly across many southern and central regions, with a mix of sun and cloud. Temperatures will mostly remain pleasant for the time of year, with many areas seeing daytime highs in the low to mid-twenties.

The main driving concern will be isolated showers, which are more of a risk later in the week and over the weekend, particularly across coastal areas, bringing the perennial risk of wet, slippery roads. Drivers should remain vigilant for localised poor visibility due to early morning mist or fog in inland valleys, and maintain a constant awareness of the fire risk in dry, high-temperature zones.

This Week

The start of the week, covering Monday and Tuesday, offers good driving conditions across much of the country, with plenty of sunshine and comfortable temperatures, although showers are expected in places. Maximum temperatures for central and southern coastal areas are expected to be around 23C to 28C.

Road surfaces will be dry, providing good grip. It is important for drivers to remember that even in good conditions, dipped headlamps must be used on all vehicles at all times for enhanced visibility.

The risk of wildfires remains a serious concern in any dry, warm area, so all litter and smoking materials must be disposed of correctly in designated bins, and never thrown from a vehicle.

Moving into the middle of the week, Wednesday and Thursday will see the general settled pattern continue, though there is a risk of increased wind speeds developing on Thursday, with gusts possibly reaching 15 mph in some coastal areas.

Drivers of high-sided vehicles and those towing caravans should exercise extreme caution, as crosswinds can cause significant instability. All other road users should give these vehicles extra space when overtaking.

Driving conditions remain largely favourable, but be mindful of the sun’s glare, especially during dawn and dusk, and ensure sunglasses are to hand. Temperatures will hold steady, peaking around 25∘C to 27∘C.

The end of the week on Friday brings a slight change, with more cloud cover and a risk of light rain showers developing across some regions, particularly the east coast. This small amount of rainfall can make roads very greasy and slippery as the water mixes with deposited road grime and oils. If you encounter rain, slow your speed significantly to compensate for the reduced tyre grip and avoid the risk of aquaplaning. Visibility may be reduced, so ensure dipped headlights and appropriate fog lamps are used where visibility drops severely below 100m. Temperatures are expected to dip slightly with the cloud and rain.

The Weekend

Saturday and Sunday will see continued mild temperatures, with many areas seeing highs of around 25∘C. Driving conditions will be fair, with a mixture of sunny intervals and partly cloudy skies. However, coastal areas may experience further light showers, bringing the renewed risk of slippery roads. Always increase your following distance in wet conditions and gently ease off the accelerator if you feel the vehicle beginning to lose traction. With heavier rural traffic expected on routes to and from coastal resorts, allow extra time for your journeys.

Next Week

The early part of next week is currently forecast to maintain the generally mild and settled weather pattern that closes out the weekend, with good driving conditions and sunshine expected across many regions, although localised drizzle and overcast conditions cannot be ruled out, especially in coastal areas. Drivers should continue to monitor local forecasts for any sudden change to heavy rain or strong winds.

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