The influence of storm Benjamin in Spain, which is already being felt particularly in Galicia, will trigger a red alert tomorrow on the coast of Cantabria and the Basque Country, due to the extreme risk of stormy seas and strong winds that could cause 8-metre waves, according to forecasts by the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet).
This red alert will affect the Cantabrian coast and also the two Basque coastal provinces due to sea winds of up to 74 kilometres per hour, and up to 88 kilometres per hour offshore, with waves of 7 to 8 metres in height. Aemet spokesperson Rubén del Campo has called for ‘great caution’ due to the impact of this second major storm of the season, named Benjamin by the French meteorological service.
Since Wednesday, it has been causing very strong gusts of wind in the north-west of the mainland, with intense winds spreading on Thursday to large areas of the mainland and the Balearics. In addition, it will cause a significant storm on the coasts of Galicia and the Cantabrian communities, with waves that could exceed 7 or 8 metres.
There will also be rain in Galicia, Cantabria, the Pyrenees and other areas in the north, with heavy rainfall in the Galician region, according to del Campo. The forecast is that on Friday the country will no longer be under the influence of Benjamin, but during the weekend the arrival of new fronts and the formation of a storm in the Mediterranean could bring rain back to much of the territory, he added.
Tomorrow, Thursday, a cold front associated with the Benjamin storm will sweep across the mainland from west to east, leaving rain in its wake in large areas of the north and centre of the mainland.
The heaviest rainfall will occur in southern Galicia and the western Pyrenees and will gradually subside as the front passes, although it will not reach the Mediterranean, according to Rubén del Campo.
The wind will be the main feature, blowing in very strong gusts across large areas of the peninsula, especially in the north, centre and east, as well as in the Balearics.