The Puente del Pilar getaway is already turning into a headache for drivers across Spain, with accidents and long queues delaying people trying to get away for the four-day holiday. If you’re setting off from Madrid or Barcelona, you could face kilometres of traffic before getting very far, while motorists around Valencia and Zaragoza province are also encountering disruption.

The timing could hardly be worse for holidaymakers hoping to make the most of the long weekend. With Spain’s National Day falling on Monday, 12 October, millions are taking advantage of the break to travel, and the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) expects around 5.7 million long-distance journeys. Queues have already exceeded three kilometres on the A-1 near Madrid, while several routes around Barcelona are reporting delays of up to nine kilometres.

Accidents cause long queues leaving Madrid

Madrid was among the worst-affected areas as holiday traffic built on Friday, 9 October. Two accidents on the A-1, near the Circuito del Jarama and around Somosierra, caused queues of more than three kilometres each, according to 20minutos. Other major roads leaving the capital were also experiencing delays.

Traffic was building on the A-3 near Rivas-Vaciamadrid, the A-4 around Butarque and Pinto, the A-42 near Parla and the A-5 around Arroyomolinos. Drivers were also encountering congestion on the A-6 near Las Rozas. The problems came as people began travelling for the four-day break, putting pressure on roads leading out of Madrid during the afternoon getaway.

Barcelona faces nine-kilometre queues

Barcelona was also dealing with significant congestion, particularly on the AP-7 and the city’s ring roads. An accident on the AP-7 near Cerdanyola del Vallès, towards Girona, contributed to queues of around nine kilometres from Sant Cugat del Vallès. A further nine-kilometre stretch of congestion was reported towards Tarragona, between Mollet del Vallès and Barberà del Vallès.

The Ronda de Dalt was also heavily congested, with queues of around nine kilometres towards Llobregat and another nine kilometres towards Besòs from the Nus de la Trinitat. On the Ronda Litoral, delays extended for eight kilometres southbound and six kilometres northbound. The Servei Català de Trànsit expects up to 570,000 vehicles to leave the Barcelona metropolitan area during the Pilar holiday, adding to the pressure on the region’s main roads.

Valencia and Zaragoza routes affected

Drivers leaving Valencia were encountering heavy traffic on the A-3 near Buñol and Siete Aguas, according to traffic reports. In Zaragoza province, an accident on the A-68 near Mallén, towards Logroño, was also affecting traffic.

Elsewhere, the A-62 was closed near Villamarciel, in Valladolid province, towards Salamanca, following a collision reported at around 3:00pm. Further incidents affected the AP-7 near Sant Cugat del Vallès and the A-6 near Las Rozas, adding to the disruption as the holiday getaway gathered pace.

When will traffic be worst?

The getaway is expected to remain busy throughout the weekend, but drivers should also prepare for delays on the return journey. The DGT expects the main return traffic on Monday afternoon and evening. To view what times are best to avoid the roads this weekend see our article Spain warns drivers to avoid these four peak travel periods over October bank holiday

Remember that drivers can check the latest road conditions through the DGT website or its traffic information service on 011 before setting off. Checking for accidents and delays before choosing a route could help avoid some of the worst queues and the timing of a trip could make a significant difference to how long drivers spend on the road. Safe travels!

If you have plans for Spain’s October bank holiday, the weather could make a big difference to them. The latest long-range prediction from Jorge Rey points to a very mixed few days, with storms expected in parts of the country before a burst of warmer air arrives, and another significant change is being forecast later in the month.

The dates to watch are October 10, 11 and 12, when millions of people will be travelling for the Puente del Pilar. But Rey’s forecast does not stop there. He is also pointing to October 23 and 24 for another spell of rain and storms across much of northern Spain and parts of the centre.

Storms could arrive for the October holiday

The first signs of the change are expected from October 9, when unsettled weather is forecast to move in from the west before reaching the Mediterranean. Rey predicts stormy conditions in the Levante on October 10 and 11, potentially bringing a very different start to the long weekend for people heading towards Spain’s eastern coast.

Northern Spain is expected to see cooler conditions and weaker rainfall during the same period, while the east could face more active weather. This means the Puente del Pilar could look very different depending on where people are spending it, with some areas dealing with thunderstorms and showers while others see cooler but comparatively quieter conditions, and then the forecast takes another turn.

October 12 could bring a burst of African heat

By Monday, October 12, Rey predicts a mass of African air moving into Spain and pushing temperatures higher. The increase is expected to be particularly noticeable across eastern Spain, potentially bringing much warmer conditions just as the long weekend comes to an end.

Western areas could have a very different experience, with cloud and locally developing storms also expected on the 12th. The three-day holiday could therefore see a striking switch from unsettled conditions to much warmer weather, depending on the region and the day. For anyone planning beach trips, sightseeing or outdoor meals, the difference between the start and end of the holiday could be considerable.

A quieter spell is expected

The unsettled weather is not expected to continue throughout the month. Rey’s forecast points towards a more stable period after the middle of October, with high pressure becoming more influential before the next major change arrives.

That calmer spell could last for several days, giving Spain a brief return to more settled autumn weather. But the second half of the month is not expected to remain quiet, with another significant shift forecast for October 23 and 24.

More rain and storms on October 23 and 24

According to Rey’s prediction, a front moving in from the west could bring rain and storms across much of northern Spain and parts of the centre around October 23 and 24. The north is expected to see the clearest change, with wetter weather spreading across the region and temperatures becoming milder.

It could mark another distinct change after the calmer spell expected earlier in the month. The forecast suggests that parts of northern Spain could remain unsettled as further fronts pass through, particularly around the western Cantabrian coast. Conditions are then expected to improve again around October 27, although the western Cantabrian area could continue seeing occasional changes as Atlantic weather systems move across.

The October dates to watch

For anyone planning trips or outdoor activities, there are several dates worth keeping in mind. October 9 could see the first signs of the change as unsettled weather moves in from the west, followed by stormy conditions in the Levante on October 10 and 11. Then October 12 could bring a sharp rise in temperatures as African air moves into the east, although western Spain could remain cloudy and see local storms.

After a more settled period in the middle of the month, October 23 and 24 are expected to bring another spell of rain and storms, this time affecting much of northern Spain and parts of the centre. The final week could then see conditions improve again, although the north-west may remain more changeable. For now, the two periods likely to attract the most attention are the Puente del Pilar from October 10 to 12 and the later spell around October 23 and 24, when Spain could once again see a sharp change in the weather.

If you have plans for Spain’s October bank holiday, the weather could make a big difference to them. The latest long-range prediction from Jorge Rey points to a very mixed few days, with storms expected in parts of the country before a burst of warmer air arrives, and another significant change is being forecast later in the month.

The dates to watch are October 10, 11 and 12, when millions of people will be travelling for the Puente del Pilar. But Rey’s forecast does not stop there. He is also pointing to October 23 and 24 for another spell of rain and storms across much of northern Spain and parts of the centre.

Storms could arrive for the October holiday

The first signs of the change are expected from October 9, when unsettled weather is forecast to move in from the west before reaching the Mediterranean. Rey predicts stormy conditions in the Levante on October 10 and 11, potentially bringing a very different start to the long weekend for people heading towards Spain’s eastern coast.

Northern Spain is expected to see cooler conditions and weaker rainfall during the same period, while the east could face more active weather. This means the Puente del Pilar could look very different depending on where people are spending it, with some areas dealing with thunderstorms and showers while others see cooler but comparatively quieter conditions, and then the forecast takes another turn.

October 12 could bring a burst of African heat

By Monday, October 12, Rey predicts a mass of African air moving into Spain and pushing temperatures higher. The increase is expected to be particularly noticeable across eastern Spain, potentially bringing much warmer conditions just as the long weekend comes to an end.

Western areas could have a very different experience, with cloud and locally developing storms also expected on the 12th. The three-day holiday could therefore see a striking switch from unsettled conditions to much warmer weather, depending on the region and the day. For anyone planning beach trips, sightseeing or outdoor meals, the difference between the start and end of the holiday could be considerable.

A quieter spell is expected

The unsettled weather is not expected to continue throughout the month. Rey’s forecast points towards a more stable period after the middle of October, with high pressure becoming more influential before the next major change arrives.

That calmer spell could last for several days, giving Spain a brief return to more settled autumn weather. But the second half of the month is not expected to remain quiet, with another significant shift forecast for October 23 and 24.

More rain and storms on October 23 and 24

According to Rey’s prediction, a front moving in from the west could bring rain and storms across much of northern Spain and parts of the centre around October 23 and 24. The north is expected to see the clearest change, with wetter weather spreading across the region and temperatures becoming milder.

It could mark another distinct change after the calmer spell expected earlier in the month. The forecast suggests that parts of northern Spain could remain unsettled as further fronts pass through, particularly around the western Cantabrian coast. Conditions are then expected to improve again around October 27, although the western Cantabrian area could continue seeing occasional changes as Atlantic weather systems move across.

The October dates to watch

For anyone planning trips or outdoor activities, there are several dates worth keeping in mind. October 9 could see the first signs of the change as unsettled weather moves in from the west, followed by stormy conditions in the Levante on October 10 and 11. Then October 12 could bring a sharp rise in temperatures as African air moves into the east, although western Spain could remain cloudy and see local storms.

After a more settled period in the middle of the month, October 23 and 24 are expected to bring another spell of rain and storms, this time affecting much of northern Spain and parts of the centre. The final week could then see conditions improve again, although the north-west may remain more changeable. For now, the two periods likely to attract the most attention are the Puente del Pilar from October 10 to 12 and the later spell around October 23 and 24, when Spain could once again see a sharp change in the weather.