Via de la Plata in March

[Jimlimardi]

Via de la Plata in March 2017 from Sevilla to Salamanca. What weather conditions might I expect?

 

[bsewall]

I would plan for temperatures in the morning in the 40's (Fahrenheit) and 60's by the afternoon. That's the baseline. There will likely be several days with morning temperatures below freezing accompanied with strong winds and some days where you will need to strip down to your T-shirt by the afternoon. Plan for frequent rains.

It's all about layering. On very cold mornings I wear up to four or five layers. In particular, I bring a heavy weight technical shirt which often proves to be a life saver when it's below freezing.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

I bring a heavy weight technical shirt which often proves to be a life saver when it's below freezing.

Can you give us an idea of what a jeavy weight technical shirt is?

 

[Anniesantiago]

Rain

 

[Anemone del Camino]

When does it start to grt rainy? It looks glorious now.

 

[bsewall]

When does it rain? Whenever you don't want it to.

Spring is a rainy season on the VdlP and it can rain at any time. You can get several weeks of no rain and then a storm system settles in and you get torrential rains for several days. In the last few years Spain has experienced periods of excessive rains in the late winter and early spring. You have to be prepared for rain and mud and be flexible with your plans if the trails are washed out.

Also, here's an example of a heavy weight technical shirt - https://www.rei.com/product/114425/rei-screeline-he-half-zip-long-sleeve-t-shirt-mens. On really cold days I wear it under a medium weight fleece jacket.

 

[Bradypus]

When does it start to grt rainy? It looks glorious now.

When you cross the border into Galicia!

 

[C clearly]

Expect sun and warm weather, too. Not to forget sun and cold weather sometimes as well!

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Ok people (C. Clearly and Bradypus): not funny.

I want clear blue skies from Sevialla to Salamanca, and this look glorious now. Then AnnieSantiago comes along and types the word ... rain. Noooooo. I am a May 2013 veteran, with no interest what so ever of becoming a repeat offender.

Pretty please. Rain? Really? Please say it ain't so.

 

[bsewall]

I walked the VdlP in the spring of 2013 and experienced a blizzard. I walked the VdlP again in 2016 and saw the Esla River at Benevente so swollen from flooding that it overflowed it's banks creating a river 2 kilometers wide.

It is so.

 

[C clearly]

Ok people (C. Clearly and Bradypus): not funny.

I want clear blue skies from Sevialla to Salamanca, and this look glorious now. Then AnnieSantiago comes along and types the word ... rain. Noooooo. I am a May 2013 veteran, with no interest what so ever of becoming a repeat offender.

Pretty please. Rain? Really? Please say it ain't so.

Are your plans taking shape?

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Are your plans taking shape?

It's hard for anything to take shape when in mud due to rain.

 

[C clearly]

It's hard for anything to take shape when in mud due to rain.

In those situations, your plans may be in great shape but your actions not so much!

 

[mla1]

I crossed very wet paths with bsewall last spring. One of the nice benefits of a lot of rain is that you often have the sound of running water near you when you are walking.
But when I started from Seville at the end of March it was full on summer temperatures for the first few days. High 20s and too hot for me. Later we passed through the very beginning stages of spring.

 

[Bradypus]

It's hard for anything to take shape when in mud due to rain.

I hope you stay safe and dry. @andy.d and me once cut short a walk to Canterbury when days of rain turned the ground to mushroom soup and we could only manage about 1 mph We kept falling over in it too and we were wild-camping in very small tents so no showers. Not a pretty sight! I don't mind cold - you can always wrap up more and stay warm by walking more - but rain really spoils my day/week/month.

Pax et bonum.

 

[Rosa TT]

Via de la Plata in March 2017 from Sevilla to Salamanca. What weather conditions might I expect?

I'll be walking starting March 2 from Seville this year. Looking forward to rxperiencing all the eain, sun, wind, snow, cold, heat predictions.

 

[Jimlimardi]

Via de la Plata in March 2017 from Sevilla to Salamanca. What weather conditions might I expect?

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I'll prepare accordingly.