A snowy beach in Poland. Credit: Shaiith / Shutterstock.com
A mass of cold Arctic air is set to sweep across the Iberian Peninsula this week, and this time the Mediterranean coast will not escape the wintry snap. After several days of unusually mild, almost spring-like temperatures, the chill is expected to be felt sharply across the region.
AEMET forecasts progressive temperature drop in the Valencian Community
Spain’s national weather agency, AEMET, forecasts a gradual decline in temperatures throughout the Valencian Community, with “winter weather” arriving from Thursday. “The coldest days will be Friday and Saturday, with a recovery expected from Sunday onwards,” the agency stated.
Unusually low snow level in the Costa Blanca
According to the latest forecast issued on Monday November 17, the predicted snow level for the Marina Alta is particularly striking due to its unusually low values. Between midnight and 06:00 on Friday November 21, the snow line is expected to drop to around 500 metres. From 06:00 to midday it could fall even further, reaching just 200 metres, before rising slightly to 300 metres between 18:00 and midnight.
These figures, combined with a forecast of rain — such as the 70% chance of precipitation in Denia on Friday — could bring snowfall to the highest points of the comarca, including the Montgó massif, which rises to more than 700 metres.
Snow in the Costa Blanca, a rare event
Snowfall along the Costa Blanca is a rare event, but there have been a handful of notable occasions when the coastline woke up to a white blanket. One of the most memorable episodes occurred in January 2017, when towns such as Jávea, Calpe and even parts of Benidorm saw snow settle for the first time in decades. The unusual weather was caused by a powerful cold front that brought heavy rain, sleet and, in some areas, several centimetres of snow — a sight that drew residents out onto the promenades to capture the moment.
Earlier episodes date back to the 1980s and 1950s, when cold outbreaks from the north occasionally reached the Mediterranean and produced brief but striking snowfall along the coast.
These events were typically short-lived, with snow melting within hours due to the region’s mild sea temperatures and abundant sunshine. Even so, they remain part of local memory, often resurfacing in conversations whenever forecasts hint at unusually low snow levels across the Marina Alta and the wider Costa Blanca.