Over the weekend Spain was hit by Storm Filomena, which blanketed the country with a snowfall that hadn’t been seen for decades.
Most of the country was hit by the blizzard, but its heaviest effects were seen in the capital of Madrid – the city received around 25 to 50 centimetres of snow, something that hadn’t happened since the 1970s, according to Spanish newspapers.
Many Madrilenians stepped outside to experience this unprecedented event and can be seen throwing snowballs at each other in the famous Plaza Mayor square or skiing down the Gran Vía, normally one of the capital’s busiest streets.
Of course, such extreme and unexpected weather caused damage and additional strain on the city, which continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic. The country had been on alert since Thursday but the blizzard revealed to be much harsher than anticipated, with authorities reporting four deaths.
Spanish authorities, including King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, encouraged everyone to remain inside since the cold weather is expected to continue well into this week. For now, Madrid remains virtually isolated since its roads have closed and its airport, Madrid-Barajas, remains partially closed.
If you’d like to remain informed on the situation, El País, one of Spain’s major newspapers, has set up a live update feed you can check out here or on their social media.
