Europe faced a weekend of stark weather contrasts as heavy rain and storms battered parts of the Mediterranean while other regions basked in unseasonably warm temperatures.

Spain’s Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET) warned of intense downpours and thunderstorms across the Mediterranean coast, with orange alerts in Baleares, Catalunya, Extremadura and Comunitat Valenciana on Saturday, and yellow warnings in 12 other regions. The agency’s spokesman, Rubén Del Campo, said storms would be widespread, with "very strong" downpours expected in Catalunya and Baleares by afternoon, while scattered but locally intense showers could strike "almost any point" of the country. Temperatures in the Guadalquivir basin may still exceed 32°C, even as most areas see a general cooldown .

In Madrid, AEMET issued yellow alerts for the Sierra and metropolitan area, forecasting strong storms and possible hail on Saturday and Sunday, with temperatures dropping below 30°C but remaining mild at 21–27°C. The capital’s skies will be overcast, with fog in high-altitude areas .

Meanwhile, Central Europe enjoyed clear skies and summer-like warmth. Hungary’s HungaroMet predicted sunny conditions with highs of 22–26°C on Saturday, while Slovakia’s meteorological service forecast temperatures up to 26°C with light winds. The Netherlands and Serbia also reported dry, warm weather, with highs of 21°C and 25°C respectively .