THERE’S an expression in Andalucia that says “don’t leave the house without your jacket until the 40th of May” (realistically meaning San Juan on June 23). This proves accurate most years, with false spring being common in Andalucia, and sometimes happening more than once. It’s bad luck for those who have just planted seedlings when the 25C sun reverts to gale force wind, frost, and precipitation.
In this particular area of Spain – the south flank of the Sierra Nevada – it’s not unusual to see heavy rain or even snow in May. Keen gardeners and ‘agricultors’ know this is commonplace. It happened in 2023, with a wintry spell that was more reminiscent of the Scottish Highlands than rural Andalucia. Visitors from the UK arguably didn’t expect to see snow above the popular tourist villages of Capileira and Trevélez, or to require wellies rather than sandals. However, some old timers from the high mountain claim to have seen snowflakes as late as June.
All change
Like a bad April Fool’s joke, the second week of April shows just how quickly weather can change in Granada region. After constant, torrential rain wrecked Semana Santa and most other outdoor events, Sunday 1 April brought heavy snow falls, thanks to Storm Nelson. Eyewitness reports showed 20cm of snow in some places above 1,700m (this is nothing compared to the depth recorded at Sierra Nevada ski resort). The result was trapped motorists, landslides, and broken roads. Snow boots and scarves were ‘de rigeur’. The ski resort at Pradollano says that conditions are still favourable for winter sports enthusiasts – even though it’s mid-April, and almost the season’s end.
Now for… bikinis?
Roll on just one week, and what a difference it makes! Anyone who planned an outdoor event for April 1 (day of the deluge) will be pulling out their proverbial hair. Despite not being a great day for allergy sufferers, Sunday 7 April brought us 27C heat. It also had ‘calima’ dust from the Sahara. This caused hazy skies across Andalucia, blotting out the view. In sharp contrast to last weekend, some people were wearing dresses, short-sleeves, vest tops… and masks to combat the dust. Out went the ‘chimenea’ (wood fire) and in came the beach visit, for the brave who don’t mind particles. Popular ‘playas’ on the Costa Tropical were reportedly busy.
With the forecast for the next week looking relatively normal for April, but with various fronts associated with storms being a recent feature of our weather, it is anyone’s guess whether more wintry spells might be round the corner. One thing is sure – it’s not time to pack the jacket away yet.
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