El Niño weather on the Camino del Norte

[Old Koot]

It seems that according to a recent article in the Economist magazine, <http://tinyurl.com/p58zk5w > "A new El Niño is now brewing" in the southern Pacific Ocean latitudes and currently inflicting strong winds and serious rainfalls, along with some loss of life, on the west coasts of North and South America.

How might the El Niño afftect the north coast of Spain this September and October?

Is there any information of the weather on the the Camino del Norte from 1997-1998 winter?

 

[Wyvernsridge]

There are two predominant suggestions. The first, that local conditions dwarf the effect of El Nino; whilst the second is that it should lead to milder, wetter winters in Southern Europe and the Mediterranean.

I am starting from Irun on 10 September. I am packing good raingear.


Alex

 

[evanlow]

El Niño is the weather pattern for the Pacific Ocean affecting asia the west coast of the Americas. For the Atlantic and Spain the weather pattern is driven by the Gulf stream.

That said, it is said that it usually have an opposite effect on the Altantic and you should have a drier weather.

 

[backpack45]

Personally, I'm going to check the weather forecasts as close to our arrival date as possible, but whatever the prediction, I am taking good raingear because there can be a lot of variation within the several weeks that one needs to complete Camino Norte. The only Camino trails that we have been on where we did not use our raingear were the ones from Porto, Portugal and Granada, Spain and that could vary according to season and year. (It was flooded near Granada from heavy rains just before we started out).

 

[mikevasey]

A forum poster ( Diego 92),said in a response last year about the Portuguese route and walking it in winter that it would be a warmer winter because of the El Nino effect, which is what happened, I was on the Frances in early January and it was quite nice. However because I am provisionally going back this December I have kept a look out for the reports ,yes the El Nino effect is in operation again but I have seen several reports suggesting that it could be a very cold winter, which is what I am preparing for.
On the Norte it might not mean there will be snow but it can still get very cold and wet. Snow might be a problem if you turn off on to the Primitivo or when you turn into the Interior of Galicia.

 

[jpflavin1]

IMO, worrying or trying to predict the weather is futile. Even the so called professionals have a difficult time a day or two in advance. Plan for the worst and be pleasantly surprised with good weather.

Ultreya,
Joe

 

[EMILE M]

For whatever this is worth, I am starting my Camino del Norte on September 16 from Irun. I tend to get lost easily, hopefully I will find some good souls along the Way to tag along with AND help me stay on the right path! I plan to do the entire Camino del Norte, hopefully the weather will be clement for us pilgrims. I did the Camino Frances in the fall of 2011 and I recall many wet days by the end of October /early November in Galicia. In fact when I arrived in Santiago on November 3, 2011, it was raining buckets with cold gales of wind to boot. I suspect this year might possibly be the same. So I am packing my trusty rain gear (rain jacket and rain pants) AND a sleeping bag. I recall staying in a couple of unheated pensiones that were COLD in late October. The sleeping bag came in very handy. Highly recommended!