Spain in Jan 2024?

[lmg]

I am very soon to be stopping work (before the end of this year) and commence an early retirement.

I have a house in Spain about 50 miles south of Alicante, and am thinking of spending a few weeks/a month there departing the UK sometime in Jan 2024, and instead of the normal "Ryan Air" flight, I was thinking of taking the bike from the UK to Spain on the ferry.

Does anyone have any experience of what I can expect in terms of weather and conditions? No idea what the Picos will be like at that time of the year, but if ok would be nice just to pootle around there making my way south.

I might even leave the bike at the Spanish house and fly home if I get a dose of "homesickness" and then fly back and ride home as and when I want to.

I assume from reading this: Spain-is-Cold that I cant expect to be very warm, but id probably be ok with that - I just dont really want to ride into snow and ice.

Any thoughts/tips/ideas would be appreciated.

TIA

 

[Simon_100]

Yup, it'll be really cold but normally dry as a bone. Fog in the valleys is the main problem and these can last for days and weeks ...

 

[lmg]

thanks - do you think its worth factoring in anytime in the Picos that time of the year?

 

[G&T]

Just pack for cold nights. Feb in my experience is the wet month. I think you’ll have a great time.

 

[Arsey]

thanks - do you think its worth factoring in anytime in the Picos that time of the year?

Depends when you’re going in January.
Looking at the long term forecast, rain is forecast in Potes from about midday on 12 Jan and then should dry up later on 13th. Then dry until more rain on 18th from about 1000.Could be quite heavy with some snow until later on 19th. Hope that helps.

 

[RedRick Esq.]

Wherever you go that is mountainous it can be cold and wet and unpredictable

We had snow in August in Portugal as we were high up
Stay low and it will get warmer the further south you go

 

[shez1]

I have been snowed out in the Picos in November, but more often it has been OK. Obviously it can be very cold at altitude even in good weather. I would plan on riding dual carriageway south from the ferry and head down to the warmer coast unless the weather forecast is favourable. The whole of the centre of Spain is at around 1000 meters, so temperatures can be low for most of the journey south.

 

[Simon_100]

Well we all agree that it's cold in January! But you just have to think about the climate regions that you're going to pass through: Atlantic (Picos), Continental (inland) and Mediterranean ...

So the coastal mountain ranges will either be dry or quiet likely wet with snow above, say, 1,000 metres. So if it's dry have a ball around the Picos for a few days and if not get away from the coast asap. All main roads will be cleared unless it's actually blowing blizzard - the Spanish roads departments is amazing, here at my home in the Pyrenees the snow plough passes up our road, which crosses a pass at 1,060 m just a few kilometres above us, every day at about 07.00 from November 1st to April 30th come rain or shine or snow, which is very rare just here. The main issues being ice and fallen rocks from the freeze-thaw effect overnight.

Back to your inland stage. January is notable for long periods of anticyclone, i.e. high pressure, which means clear and very cold with thermal version affecting low ground, as I said earlier valleys, where most towns and all cities are located, will be subject to persistent freezing fog. But one you're up above it's perfect riding weather - I do much of my riding in winter up and down the Pyrenees.

But to get that altitude for the length of your journey you'll have to follow the Sistema Ibérico mountain range which runs from the southeast of the Picos to approach the Mediterranean coast north of Valencia. Two key cities along the way are Soria and Teruel and you will have already read about their climate on your web page in the OP.

There is a way to stay on high ground and reach the coast south of Valencia, to avoid being stuck on the horrible motorway there, by going via Requena - which is a pants place and not good idea to leave your bike outside! - and Almansa, from whence you have a voice of routes to your home on the coast.

But note that of the weather is bad the Sistema Ibérico roads are lethal and IMHO you're better off enjoying being grounded somewhere nice - and warm! - until the weather eases over!

Enjoy

Simon

 

[G&T]

IMG, as you are now in the position to be free as a bird, can I suggest you weather watch for that high pressure zone bringing stable weather and book your trip last minute.

Here’s one surface pressure chart link for you that looks ahead. Basically steer clear of the Lows.
https://www.metcheck.com/WEATHER/gfscharts.asp

Add this to some other models as well as your local forecasts.
https://www.yourweather.co.uk/models/es-spain-ecmwf-91.htm

 

[Skid06]

I am very soon to be stopping work (before the end of this year) and commence an early retirement.

I have a house in Spain about 50 miles south of Alicante, and am thinking of spending a few weeks/a month there departing the UK sometime in Jan 2024, and instead of the normal "Ryan Air" flight, I was thinking of taking the bike from the UK to Spain on the ferry.

Does anyone have any experience of what I can expect in terms of weather and conditions? No idea what the Picos will be like at that time of the year, but if ok would be nice just to pootle around there making my way south.

I might even leave the bike at the Spanish house and fly home if I get a dose of "homesickness" and then fly back and ride home as and when I want to.

I assume from reading this: Spain-is-Cold that I cant expect to be very warm, but id probably be ok with that - I just dont really want to ride into snow and ice.

Any thoughts/tips/ideas would be appreciated.

TIA

ill probably ride down to Guardamar south of Alicante at Christmas time to see the MIL, Did it in June this year, ill take my chance with the weather in Picos

 

[leedude03]

prepare for the worst hope for the best and that should cover it.

 

[Davey B]

The riding should be bearable, not so sure about a January crossing of the Bay of Biscay. I'd last minute it. (Have you checked that they sail thru Winter?)

 

[wessie]

The riding should be bearable, not so sure about a January crossing of the Bay of Biscay. I'd last minute it. (Have you checked that they sail thru Winter?)

2 sailings a week from Portsmouth to Santander.

Not everyone has poor sea legs. I love rough crossings as the queue at the bar is very short

The main problem in January will be finding places open away from the coast, ski resorts and big cities.

 

[lmg]

The riding should be bearable, not so sure about a January crossing of the Bay of Biscay. I'd last minute it. (Have you checked that they sail thru Winter?)

Yep they sail through the winter

 

[lmg]

2 sailings a week from Portsmouth to Santander.

Not everyone has poor sea legs. I love rough crossings as the queue at the bar is very short

I’ve been on some seriously rough sea crossings around the world and sometimes it’s stopped me having a curry and a dozen beers - other than that, the hardest thing is trying to piss in the bog whilst rocking side to side

 

[G&T]

the hardest thing is trying to piss in the bog whilst rocking side to side

On a still ocean I can be minding my own business only for a swell to come from nowhere and make me think WTF!

It is normally just when I’m finding a seat with a tray full of breakfast.

 

[Cyber]

Are you keeping the bike down here Img? Some fantastic roads from you and North West. We are 50 miles north… If the bike is staying here give me a shout if you fancy a ‘con Leche’

 

[Simon_100]

Are you keeping the bike down here Img? Some fantastic roads from you and North West. We are 50 miles north… If the bike is staying here give me a shout if you fancy a ‘con Leche’

This reminded me to check your insurance is still valid after so many days abroad each year ...

 

[Rockred]

Northern and cental Spain will generally be quite cold in January, check Madrids average winter temperatures for example, it's colder than the UK due it's the elevation. If you can stick as much as possible to the Mediterranean coast you will have a lot warmer weather. The coldest month down here is unsurprising January, with a daily average high of 16 c, so not too bad. The Alicante area has a very mild winter, as does most of the Med coast.

 

[Wapping]

The Picos is a comparatively small area, within the Pyrenees / northern Spain. To my simple mind, it’s less of a question about what the weather will be like ‘In January’ in the Picos specifically and more about what the weather will be like across northern and central Spain as a whole.

Lob in that the mountains can throw some curve balls in mid-summer, let alone midwinter and it’s a screwed lottery, though it’s a pretty safe assumption that mountains and winter bring freezes and usually snow. It could even be freezing or snowing, or raining or bright blue but cold as you pass through central Spain, before you have even got to the mountain’s foothills.

My advice? Start looking at the forecast a week or even a day or so out from when you plan on maybe departing….. and hope to get / stay lucky..