Storm Austen: strong winds and high waves on Spain's north coast

The approaching Atlantic storm system, Storm Austen, is set to influence the weather along Spain's northern Atlantic coast on Thursday and Friday. While rainfall is expected to remain relatively limited in most areas, strong wind gusts and high waves could create hazardous conditions along exposed stretches of coastline.

Away from the north, however, the weather outlook is considerably more settled. Large parts of mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands can expect a mixture of sunshine and clouds, with little or no rainfall through Sunday.

The latest meteo365.es forecasts show a familiar autumn contrast: cooler conditions in the north, pleasantly mild temperatures in the south and along the Mediterranean, and a particularly unsettled Atlantic coastline.

Storm Austen: strong winds and rough seas along Spain's northern coast

Storm Austen is expected to bring severe weather to parts of Ireland and the United Kingdom, but its influence will also extend southwards towards the Iberian Peninsula.

According to the latest meteo365.es ICON-EU forecasts, the main impact on Spain will be felt along the northern Atlantic coastline, particularly in Galicia and along the Bay of Biscay.

Thursday, 22 October: the first gusts on the Galician coast

The first effects will become noticeable on Thursday, especially along the Galician coast and in the western Bay of Biscay.

Our forecast maps indicate maximum wind gusts of approximately:

• A Coruña: 74 km/h
• Bilbao: 51 km/h
• Vigo: 57 km/h
• Lugo: 49 km/h

These are modelled gust values for the selected locations. Stronger winds may occur locally in particularly exposed coastal areas and higher terrain.

Storm Austen: strongest wind gusts

Forecast daily maximum per location · ICON-EU run of 21 October 2026, 06 UTC

Thursday 22 Oct Friday 23 Oct

1. 1A Coruña74 km/h
2. 2Vigo57 km/h
3. 3Bilbao51 km/h
4. 4Lugo49 km/h
5. 5Tortosa26 km/h
6. 6Zaragoza26 km/h
7. 7Lleida16 km/h
8. 8Gijón13 km/h

Rainfall is also forecast for parts of Galicia and the Cantabrian coast, although the amounts shown by the model remain comparatively modest.

For example, the current daily precipitation forecast indicates approximately 3.2 mm for A Coruña, 3.5 mm for Vigo and 1.7 mm for Gijón.

This suggests that wind and sea conditions, rather than widespread heavy rainfall, will be the main weather concerns.

Waves could reach five to seven metres

The combination of strong winds and the Atlantic swell generated by Storm Austen will build a heavy sea along exposed sections of Spain's northern Atlantic coastline.

Our EWAM wave model puts the significant wave height at up to about six metres, with Friday clearly the peak of the episode.

Significant wave height is the average of the highest third of the waves. Individual waves run considerably higher, which is why a sea state like this is often described in the five-to-seven-metre range.

Wave height off Spain’s northern coast

Significant wave height, daily maximum · EWAM run of 21 October 2026, 00 UTC

Thursday 22 Oct Friday 23 Oct Saturday 24 Oct

These conditions could make coastal areas dangerous, particularly around harbours, breakwaters, rocky shorelines and exposed promenades.

Wave heights vary considerably depending on location, coastal orientation and the development of the storm.

Residents and visitors should pay particular attention to official coastal warnings and avoid approaching exposed areas during periods of heavy surf.

Friday: stronger winds around the Bay of Biscay

Friday, 23 October, is expected to remain windy across northern Spain, with the focus shifting towards parts of the eastern Cantabrian coast and the northeastern interior.

The latest meteo365.es wind gust forecast indicates:

Location	Forecast maximum gust
Bilbao	71 km/h
Vigo	62 km/h
A Coruña	59 km/h
Gijón	59 km/h
Tortosa	58 km/h
Lleida	55 km/h
Zaragoza	53 km/h
Lugo	45 km/h

Although the strongest coastal effects are expected in the north, the forecast also indicates locally gusty conditions in parts of northeastern Spain.

Rainfall will remain concentrated mainly around northern coastal areas and some northeastern regions.

The model currently suggests approximately 2.1 mm for Bilbao and 2.1 mm for Girona, with smaller amounts in much of Galicia and Asturias.

Most central, southern and eastern parts of mainland Spain are forecast to remain dry.

A pleasant outlook for much of Spain

While the northern Atlantic coast deals with the effects of Storm Austen, the weather picture across the rest of the country looks considerably more favourable.

From Thursday through Sunday, a mixture of sunshine and clouds is expected across large parts of mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands.

Rainfall is unlikely in many regions, including much of Andalusia, Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha, Madrid, Murcia and the Valencian Community.

Some localised showers remain possible, particularly near the northeastern Mediterranean coast and the Pyrenees, but widespread precipitation is not indicated by the current forecast maps.

This is welcome news for residents and holidaymakers hoping to enjoy outdoor activities during the second half of October.

Temperatures: autumn in the north, pleasant warmth in the south

The north–south temperature contrast will remain clearly visible throughout the forecast period.

Northern Spain will experience relatively cool daytime temperatures, while southern and Mediterranean regions continue to enjoy pleasantly mild conditions.

The current forecast highlights include:

Location	Thu 22 Oct	Fri 23 Oct	Sat 24 Oct	Sun 25 Oct
A Coruña	16°C	16°C	17°C	19°C
Bilbao	18°C	17°C	17°C	17°C
Madrid	17°C	18°C	17°C	19°C
Barcelona	20°C	22°C	19°C	21°C
Valencia	23°C	24°C	22°C	25°C
Benidorm	22°C	25°C	21°C	23°C
Murcia	24°C	24°C	23°C	26°C
Málaga	23°C	24°C	24°C	25°C
Sevilla	25°C	24°C	25°C	26°C
Palma	21°C	23°C	20°C	23°C

Forecast daytime maximum temperatures based on the ICON-EU model run of 21 October 2026, 06 UTC. Values may change with subsequent forecast updates.

Southern Spain: a touch of late summer

Andalusia and parts of southeastern Spain are expected to remain particularly pleasant.

Sevilla could reach 25°C on Thursday and Saturday, increasing to around 26°C on Sunday.

Málaga is forecast to enjoy relatively stable daytime temperatures between 23°C and 25°C throughout the period.

Murcia could reach 26°C on Sunday, while Valencia is also forecast to climb to approximately 25°C.

These are very comfortable temperatures for late October, particularly for visitors exploring the Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca and other popular Mediterranean destinations.

Northern Spain: a more autumnal feeling

Across Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country, temperatures will generally remain in the mid-to-upper teens.

Inland northern regions will be cooler, with forecast highs around 13–17°C in cities such as Burgos, León and Soria.

Mountain areas will be colder still. Baqueira, in the Pyrenees, is forecast to reach only around 9°C on Thursday, 6°C on Friday and 4°C on Saturday.

The weekend: generally dry, with improving conditions in many areas

Looking ahead to Saturday and Sunday, the forecast suggests a gradual easing of the strongest winds across much of northern Spain.

On Saturday, the ICON-EU model indicates considerably weaker gusts along the Galician and Cantabrian coasts compared with Thursday and Friday.

However, some locally gusty conditions may persist in the northeastern Mediterranean region, particularly near Tortosa and parts of the Balearic Islands.

Rainfall is expected to remain limited across most of the country.

On Saturday, the model shows some precipitation around Girona, the Pyrenees and nearby Mediterranean waters, while Sunday looks largely dry across central and southern Spain.

Temperatures could also recover slightly in several regions on Sunday, particularly in western and southern Spain.

For many residents and visitors, the weekend therefore looks promising for outdoor plans, although anyone visiting the northern coast should continue to monitor sea conditions.

Follow the latest developments with meteo365.es

Storm Austen provides another reminder that weather conditions can vary enormously across Spain.

While the northern Atlantic coastline prepares for strong winds and heavy seas, much of the Mediterranean coast and southern mainland can expect relatively settled and mild autumn weather.

At meteo365.es, our weather forecasts are updated four times every day, allowing you to follow changes as new meteorological data becomes available.You can also explore our RADAR + NowCast — our radar view is prepared from the official radar data of the national weather services, and our own NowCast adds the expected short-term movement — along with live weather webcams and measurements from weather stations across Spain.

Stay informed, especially if you live near or plan to visit Spain's northern Atlantic coastline over the coming days.

Weather you can understand. Information you can trust.

Forecast information: meteo365.es, ICON-EU model run of 21 October 2026 at 06 UTC and EWAM wave model run of 21 October 2026 at 00 UTC. The forecast covers 22–25 October 2026. Wind gusts, rainfall, wave heights and temperatures are forecast values, not observed measurements. Sea-state figures should be checked against updated marine forecasts and official warnings.