The storm Éowyn has become the meteorological protagonist in the west of the continent. Although Spain is going to be spared the worst of this storm, its rains and proximity of a new Atlantic depression They predict unstable weather for us in the coming days.
The storm Éowyn. Forecasts indicate that Storm Éowyn is heading towards the British Isles, but this extremely deep storm will also be noticeable at lower latitudes. The State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) warns of the arrival of a front associated with this storm that will predictably leave strong winds in Galicia and other areas of the north of the Peninsula.
Éowyn will be an extraordinarily intense storm that could generate winds equivalent to a hurricane of category 2 or even higher. The storm is expected to reach this intensity thanks to a process of explosive cyclogenesis, an abrupt reduction in pressure associated with the storm. In this case, a drop in the pressure of about 30 hPa in 24 hours.
“Deep” and chained storms. Éowyn will be the intermediate link that will unite an entire chain of storms since it will succeed Garoé (whose effects are still noticeable in areas of the Peninsula) and will precede a new storm, not as intense but fed by an atmospheric river. A front associated with this new storm (which could be named Floris) will reach the Peninsula on Sunday, and its effect in these latitudes is expected to be greater than that of Éowyn.
On Saturday the story will be similar, but on Sunday it could still gain intensity in the north of the peninsula. The snow level will drop to a range between 1,000 and 1,400 meters during the morning, and then rise during the afternoon.
Rain, wind… and snow. AEMET forecasts They therefore anticipate a weekend of atmospheric instability, with significant winds in the north of the peninsula. The agency’s forecasts speak of “intervals of strong wind and/or very strong gusts in Galicia, the Cantabrian environment and Empordà”, as well as “locally strong and/or persistent” rainfall in western Galicia” for Friday.
On Saturday the story will be similar, but on Sunday it could still gain intensity in the north of the peninsula. The snow level will drop to a range between 1,000 and 1,400 meters during the morning, and then rise during the afternoon.
Alerts activated. Throughout the weekend, AEMET has activated various warnings as a result of the various inclement weather that awaits us: yellow and orange warnings for wind and rain, as well as the state of the sea on the coast and which will last at least until Sunday.
The affected areas are in the north and northwest of the Peninsula: Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, the north of Castilla y León and the Basque Country will see these warnings activated at different times over the weekend. On Friday, wind warnings will also affect the plateau in Salamanca and the Cantabrian slope of Navarra.
Contemporary mythology. We are already used to hearing about storms with own namebut the one about the storm Éowyn has caught the attention of some since it refers to a character from the mythology created by the British writer JRR Tolkien. Each year, European meteorological agencies meet to assign names to the significant storms that will arrive throughout the season, in a similar way to how in North America each year lists of names are chosen for hurricanes in the Atlantic and in the Eastern Pacific.
In Europe, several lists are also chosen. When preparing one of these lists The State Meteorological Agency participates (AEMET), together with the French and Portuguese agencies (among others). However, the meteorological agencies in the north of the continent, including the British and Irish, draw up their own list, which in this case is the one that gives Éowyn its name.
Image | ECMWF