The mountain areas of Malaga province were covered in white earlier this week as snow fell on high land. Meanwhile the Costa del Sol saw heavy rain and a hail storm briefly turned a Fuengirola beach white.

On Monday morning the Spanish meteorological agency Aemet raised the yellow warning to amber in the Ronda area with yellow alerts for snow in force in the Antequera area. The warnings had been lifted by 6pm although new yellow alerts for rain were put in place for Tuesday.

Access to Sierra de las Nieves and El Torcal was still closed to traffic on Tuesday. Officials stated the heavy build-up of snow and icy patches on local roads had made the roads unsafe for vehicle access. They added that those who wish to visit should wrap up warm, take suitable footwear and a raincoat, and a bag with water, food, and a charged mobile phone.

Meteorologists say that temperatures should begin to rise again by Wednesday, but the cold could return by the week's end.

The harshest weather of this winter so far has covered the highest areas of the province in a white blanket of snow. While these idyllic settings attracted many families over the weekend, the snow has also been accompanied by a dramatic fall in the temperature to as low as -1ºC in Ronda and Antequera.

At the weekend it snowed across the entire mountainous strip that borders the province from the Ronda mountain range and the Sierra de las Nieves to the peaks of Tejeda, Alhama, and Almijara.

On Monday morning, the province saw further snow and rain, when temperatures in Antequera, Ronda, and Axarquía ranged from below freezing up to about 5ºC. In the city of Malaga temperatures ranged from 7 to 11ºC, in Vélez from 4 to 12º C, and in Marbella between 8 and 12º C.

The forecast for the rest of the week is marked by instability. Wednesday and Thursday will be a bit drier,but showers are due to return on Friday and at the weekend.