Foreign Office issues ‘extreme risk’ warning to British tourists travelling to Spain

The Foreign Office has issued an ‘extreme risk’ warning to British tourists travelling to Spain after storms and snow hit the Costa Blanca and east coast.

Popular tourism hotspots including Barcelona, Valencia and Alicante have all had an extreme weather warning put in place by the country’s meteorological office (AEMET) as Storm Gloria continues to batter the mainland with heavy rain, up to three inches of snow, towering waves and high winds.

Alerts are also in place in Teurel, Albacete, Murcia, Girona, Tarragona and Castellon, while authorities in The Balearics, Almeria, Granada and Jaen remain on high alert.

Flights to London, Newcastle, Bristol and other major UK cities were cancelled for the second day running yesterday as Alicante airport closed before the storm struck the mainland.

It swept onto the peninsula early on Monday and has left a trail of destruction; smashing seafront shops, blocking roads, damaging beaches and flooding homes.

Storm Gloria is hanging over northern Spain at the moment and has just made landfall in the Pyrenees-Orientales, southern France, which has also been placed on high alert.

Authorities are on standby in Teurel and Castellon for up to 15 inches of snow, while waves up to eight metres high are expected in Barcelona, Girona and Tarragona. 

Four people have died so far including a 63-year-old man, who was killed by falling roof tiles blown off by high winds in Pedro Bernardo, Avila. 

This was the scene as huge waves crashed over a breakwater at the Port Olympic marina in Barcelona with storm Gloria battering the Spanish eastern coast today

Waves batter the beachfront of the coastal town of Javea, Alicante, as Storm Gloria sweeps in from the Mediterranean

Waves batter the beachfront of the coastal town of Javea, Alicante, as Storm Gloria sweeps in from the Mediterranean

At least a foot of snow covers a driveway, gate and trees in Biar, Alicante. It is several kilometres inland from the coast

At least a foot of snow covers a driveway, gate and trees in Biar, Alicante. It is several kilometres inland from the coast

A map issued by Spanish authorities shows where yellow, orange and red weather warnings were in place at lunchtime today

A map issued by Spanish authorities shows where yellow, orange and red weather warnings were in place at lunchtime today

Snow plough moves down a blocked main road in Vilafranca, about 40 miles from the Valencian coastline. A 54-year-old woman has died, local media reports, and a 44-year-old man was killed yesterday by a van that had lost control

Snow plough moves down a blocked main road in Vilafranca, about 40 miles from the Valencian coastline. A 54-year-old woman has died, local media reports, and a 44-year-old man was killed yesterday by a van that had lost control

The departures board in Alicante-Elche airport on Sunday. It was closed from 1pm yesterday ahead of the arrival of Storm Gloria, but re-opened on Tuesday to international flights

The departures board in Alicante-Elche airport on Sunday. It was closed from 1pm yesterday ahead of the arrival of Storm Gloria, but re-opened on Tuesday to international flights

The Mediterranean sea gushes into Denia, Alicante coastline, as Storm Gloria hits the region yesterday (pictured)

The Mediterranean sea gushes into Denia, Alicante coastline, as Storm Gloria hits the region yesterday (pictured)

Residents in Javea emerged as the storm began to pass to find the storefront of Ale-Hop had been smashed, along with others

Residents in Javea emerged as the storm began to pass to find the storefront of Ale-Hop had been smashed, along with others

The Foreign Office warned that high winds and snowfall from the storm are likely to cause road closures and disrupt transport services.

‘If you’re in the area, you should exercise caution and follow the advice of local authorities,’ they said. 

Terrifying footage from yesterday shows waves sweeping into Denia, Alicante and appearing to surround people trapped in their cars.

The beach in Javea, further down the coast, was pictured strewn with rubble and bits of wood washed up as the storm battered the mainland. Storefronts along the seafront were also smashed open.

When will it be safe to travel in affected areas?

The Foreign Office recommends checking the Spanish Civil Protection Unit Twitter account for updates on the weather in specific areas and precautionary travel advice.

Record high 8.46-metre waves have also been recorded in Valencia, local media recorded, while footage from yesterday showed waves several feet high slamming into the coastline in Calpe, Alicante. 

The river Algar, in the mountains, also burst its banks and gushing over a tourist viewing platform at the Algar waterfall in a torrent of rapidly moving water. 

As the storm hammered its way over the Spanish mainland the rain froze, causing a deluge of snow to fall over inland areas in the interior of Valencia and Alicante.

The 35,000 residents of Villen, Valencia, were isolated this morning after a seven-hour snowfall left snow drifts between two and three inches high blocking roads into and out of the town. 

Snow drifts blanketed the town of Albacete in Castilla La Mancha as Storm Gloria moved through the region yesterday. One town in Valencia was completely cut off after a seven-hour snowfall left up to three inches of the white stuff blocking roads

Snow drifts blanketed the town of Albacete in Castilla La Mancha as Storm Gloria moved through the region yesterday. One town in Valencia was completely cut off after a seven-hour snowfall left up to three inches of the white stuff blocking roads

Snow also blanketed the town around 13th century Atalaya castle in Villena, Alicante. (Pictured on the regional government's tourism board Twitter account)

Snow also blanketed the town around 13th century Atalaya castle in Villena, Alicante. (Pictured on the regional government’s tourism board Twitter account)

A car is pictured covered in snow after stormy weather hit Albacete in Castilla La Mancha, Spain

A car is pictured covered in snow after stormy weather hit Albacete in Castilla La Mancha, Spain

Snow was also pictured covering fields in Villena. The 35,000 residents of the town were cut off following snowfall

Snow was also pictured covering fields in Villena. The 35,000 residents of the town were cut off following snowfall

Ploughs were also seen clearing the roads in Vilafranca, 40 miles from the Valencian coast, as piles of snow made major highways impassable, while many Spaniards took to social media to express their shock at the weather.

The 13th century Atalaya castle in Villena, Alicante, was photographed covered with snow next to houses and businesses in the area. Snow drifts were also pictured in Biar, Alicante, and across the area around Villena.

A brief snow shower was also filmed on the Costa del Sol in Mijas, the Olive Press reported.  

Ryanair, which had several affected flights, told MailOnline yesterday that a ‘small number’ of its services would be diverted to either Murcia or Valencia airports following the closure of Alicante-Elche airport yesterday. 

Waves batter the seafront in Calpe, Alicante, which is popular with tourists. Authorities had warned that the waves could be up to eight feet high when the storm hit yesterday

Waves batter the seafront in Calpe, Alicante, which is popular with tourists. Authorities had warned that the waves could be up to eight feet high when the storm hit yesterday

Algar waterfall in Alicante pictured swamping over a tourist viewing platform

The river burst its banks following heavy rainfall

The Algar waterfall was also filmed bursting its banks and swamping a tourist viewing platform with a torrent of water, as the Alicante river swelled following heavy rain yesterday

‘All impacted customers were notified by email and SMS message’, they said. ‘Customers arriving in Murcia or Valencia as a consequence of diversions will be coached to Alicante’.

‘Ryanair apologised for these schedule changes, which are completely outside of the airline’s control.’

Alicante-Elche airport was closed at 1pm on Sunday, ahead of the storms arrival. Airport chiefs said that the airport would remain closed today due to the storm.

It suffered roof damage last week when a fire broke out, which has also been blamed for the current closure.

A statement from Spanish airport operator AENA said: ‘Alicante-Elche airport will remain closed to air traffic today. The alert is being maintained because of Storm Gloria and continuing additional security measures due to the fire last week.’

There are reportedly 33 provinces affected by the bad weather.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk