Damaging winds to whip across France and Spain through Sunday

By Eric Leister, AccuWeather meteorologist

February 4,2017, 10:21:36AM,EST

 

 

Another round of damaging winds and heavy rain will lash France, Spain and northern Portugal on Sunday as the parade of storms from the Atlantic Ocean continues.
Locations across northern Spain as well as western and southern France will be at the greatest risk for travel disruption as powerful winds howl each day through Sunday.
The strongest wind will occur along the coast of the Bay of Biscay on Sunday morning. These strong winds will then shift to the southern coast of France and the Mediterranean during the afternoon. The strongest of the winds will pass to the south of Paris.

In coastal locations of western France and northern Spain, wind gusts could reach 130 km/h (81 mph) during the height of the storm. Winds of this magnitude can result in widespread power outages and damage to trees and homes.
"The winds can ground planes for a time and knock over high-profile vehicles," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski said.
Strong winds will also lash Madrid. Gusts of 65 to 80 km/h (40 to 50 mph) will occur with higher gusts in the mountains to the north of the city.
"Sunday is likely to be the windiest day of this stormy pattern for central and eastern Spain," Pydynowski said. "Wind gusts of 80-100 km/h (50-60 mph) threaten to cause power outages and tree damage from Zaragoza to Lleida, as well as in Murcia and Barcelona."
Related:
France Weather Center
Western Europe Weather Radar
Spain Weather Center
Along with the threat for damaging winds, wind-driven rain will soak much of Spain and France as well.
The greatest threat for flooding will be across northern Spain and southern France where rainfall totals, starting with the rain that arrived on Thursday night, of 75-150 mm (3-6 inches) will be common with local amounts exceeding 200 mm (8 inches).
Locations in western and central France can expect 25-75 mm (1-3 inches) of rain through Sunday, prompting localized flooding.

"Heavy snow, totaling more than a half of a meter (2 feet) will bury the peaks of the Pyrenees this weekend with substantial snow also developing over the mountains of northwestern Spain on Sunday," Pydynowski said.
“These storms will also bring a high risk for coastal flooding, especially during high tide,” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys.
“Dangerous seas will persist across the Bay of Biscay through Sunday with waves over 9 meters (30 feet) at times,” Roys added.
Additional unsettled weather is expected across France and Spain next week. However, the threat for damaging winds and flooding will lessen.