British tourists warned of 'violent' Hurricane force gusts (original) (raw)

Brits travelling to Spain have been warned, as the country braces for the arrival of Storm Kirk, which has been downgraded from a hurricane, with amber and yellow weather warnings issued across large parts of the country. The north west is expected to be hardest hit by the storm, which is set to bring "very strong gusts of wind" and heavy rainfall.

Winds could reach up to 120km/h (around 75mph) in the Southwestern Asturia region. Amber warnings for a "violent north-west wind" are in place along the Cantanbrian and Biscay coastlines, with "possible hurricane-force gusts" expected in the Cantabrian region, Galicia, the Pyrenees, and northern Iberia.

Central Spain could see winds of up to 80km/h. The north coast is also expected to experience stormy conditions, with amber warnings issued, while yellow coastal warnings have been issued for the Mediterranean coastline including the Almeria, Castellon, Tarragona and Barcelona regions. For the latest Welsh news delivered to your inbox sign up to our newsletter

The Balearic Islands are also expected to be affected, with force 7 winds (60km/h) and waves up to 3m forecast, and yellow warnings in place for Ibiza, Majorca and Mallorca.

Forecasting for Wednesday, October 9, Spanish meteorological service, Aemet said: "Former hurricane Kirk is expected to be over the northwest of the peninsula, leaving a predominance of cloudy or overcast skies with precipitation advancing from west to east and affecting most of the Peninsula. Less abundant precipitation is expected the further east it goes, occurring weakly and occasionally in the far east and the Balearic Islands, and not expected to reach the south eastern tip of the peninsula."

"They will be more abundant, potentially becoming strong and/or persistent and with the possibility of some storms, in the Pyrenees, Cantabrian area, west of the Central System and Galicia, especially in its western half where the highest accumulations are expected."

The forecasters added: "The wind will be the most significant phenomenon of the day. In the eastern Cantabrian Sea there will be a gale turning from south to northwest. It will blow strongly from the south and southwest in most of the Peninsula and the Balearic Islands, with a westerly wind in the Strait and Alboran, and a tendency to turn to a westerly component in the rest."

"It is expected to reach strong and/or very strong gusts in most of the territory, less likely in the interior of the extreme southwest, and except in the northeast where it will be weak from the southeast. It will be more intense in the Cantabrian Sea, the northwest quadrant and the Pyrenees, and may reach hurricane-force gusts in parts of Galicia, the north of the Iberian Peninsula, the Pyrenees and the Cantabrian area, especially in its mountains."

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