Packing for a trip across Spain this weekend could be unusually tricky. While some cities in the interior will wake up to 3° C, there are places in the south of the country where the afternoon temperature may still be above 30° C.

The contrast comes as cooler polar air brings a touch of autumn to central and northern areas. But anyone reaching for winter clothing may not need it for long: temperatures are forecast to rebound over the weekend before warmer air spreads across much of Spain from Monday, the 12th of October.

For residents and visitors, it could be coats first thing in the morning, and considerably lighter clothing by the afternoon, according to where they are. The difference between the coldest mornings and the warmest daytime temperatures will approach thirty degrees.

Along with the pronounced change in temperatures, another complication for weekend plans is that Aemet warnings remain in place for heavy rain, thunderstorms, strong winds and rough seas, particularly in parts of the Mediterranean and the south.

From 3C to 31C: Spain wakes up to a dramatic temperature contrast

The biggest shock will come early in the morning. According to forecasts of Spain’s State Meteorological Agency, Aemet, Ávila could fall to just 3° C this Friday, making it one of the coldest provincial capitals.

Segovia is forecast to reach 4° C, while Burgos, León, Salamanca and Huesca may fall to about 5° C; Palencia, Soria and Teruel are expected to hover around 6° C.

Madrid is another example of autumnal cold, with a temperature of about 10° in the morning and about 20° in midday. Valladolid might have a beginning of 7° and end at 19°.

If you travel south, however, you might feel like it is a different season altogether.

Granada, Málaga, and Almería are to reach about 27°C. Seville and Huelva may reach 31°C, and Cádiz and Córdoba are forecast to climb to around 28°C.

That enormous north-south contrast means travellers across Spain should be prepared for very different conditions within the same day.

The colder mornings may be felt by those who have to get up early for work, catch a morning flight, or be out of doors. Meanwhile, travellers going south will still have to look for shade during the hottest hours of the afternoon.

Spain weather warnings: storms and rough seas could disrupt weekend plans

Temperatures are only part of the picture.Despite some of the recent rainfall abating, the Mediterranean and the south of Spain will remain unsettled. There will be locally heavy rain and thunderstorms, particularly in the vicinity of Ceuta and the south-eastern coast.

Aemet warnings are in force over areas including Girona, the Balearic Islands, Lanzarote and Ceuta for rain, thunderstorms, strong winds and dangerous coastal conditions.

Some of the most difficult conditions are expected around Girona’s coastline.In parts of the Empordà there is an orange warning for coastal conditions, where northerly and north-westerly winds may reach 50 to 70 km/h, and waves may rise to between three and four metres.

Menorca is also under an orange coastal warning, with potential waves of between four and five metres, and northerly winds of around 50 to 60 km/h.

In addition, southern Girona and parts of Mallorca are on yellow alert for wind and rough seas, while Ceuta and Lanzarote face yellow alerts for rain and thunderstorms. Rainfall could reach up to 15 liters per square meter in an hour in affected areas.

For anyone planning coastal walks, ferry journeys, beach visits or other activities close to the sea, the warnings are therefore more important than the relatively mild daytime temperatures might suggest.

Spain temperatures to surge again from October 12 as warmer air returns

The cold snap is not expected to last.During the weekend temperatures will rise and then a much warmer air mass will spread across much of Spain from Sunday into Monday, October 12. This will coincide with Spain’s National Day and the end of the Pilar long weekend.

According to forecasts cited from Meteored, an anti-cyclonic ridge could bring temperatures above the seasonal average across large parts of Spain from Monday through Thursday.

Badajoz, Córdoba, Huelva, Ourense and Seville could climb back to 30° C or above, with some local temperatures exceeding 32° C.

Cáceres, Cádiz, Murcia, and Zaragoza will approach 28° C; in Madrid, temperatures may reach around 25° C. Also the nights are expected to be milder, with minimum temperatures in many inland provincial capitals struggling to fall below 10° C.

What it amounts to is an unusually changeable few days for anyone making plans around Spain.

Friday morning will be, in certain inland towns, almost as cold as in winter, and next week the temperatures may be more reminiscent of late summer.

Practically, travellers can do no better than pack for both. A jacket in Castilla y León might be invaluable very early in the morning, while sunglasses and lighter clothing may be more useful a few hours later in Andalucía.

For those staying in Spain through the October 12 holiday, the weather story may ultimately be less about how soon autumn arrives than how quickly it appears to retreat again.