AFTER unusually-high temperatures graced Spain during the first weekend of spring, a mass of cold air heading down from Greenland means winter is on its way back - and, in some parts of the country, has already arrived.
A multi-car pile-up on mountain roads in Asturias, leaving several drivers and passengers with minor injuries, was caused by hail on Tuesday, whilst on the Mediterranean, temperatures plummeted to around 11ºC on Sunday and Monday with two days of non-stop rain.
In the northern half of the country, maximum temperatures of around 9ºC are expected until at least this coming Sunday, and snow is forecast at altitudes of above 400 metres.
Ironically, an almost total lack of snowfall south of the Pyrénées meant several of Spain's ski resorts were unable to open until nearly January and, even then, the only white stuff on the pistes was generated by snow-making cannons - and yet, now that most of them have been closed for at least a week, they may suddenly get the snow they have been missing all winter.
This morning (Thursday), exceptionally cold temperatures were reported throughout the mainland - mostly in the northern and central parts, although also in pockets of the south.
The lowest was recorded in Puerto de Leitariegos (Asturias), at -3.2ºC, followed by Puerto de San Isidro (León province, Castilla y León), at -3.1ºC.
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