BRITONS often head off to warmer Spanish holiday resorts in winter to escape our cold and wet climate.

However, this year Spain has experienced its worst snowfall for half a century.

Even the capital Madrid has been hit badly by the rare snowfall event.

But what was behind the extremely heavy snowfall and sub-zero temperatures that led to a number of deaths? Basically, warm and moist weather system over the Atlantic, Storm Filomena crashed into a large pool of extremely cold air covering western Europe. This storm dumped a blanket of deep snow on Madrid along with a large swathe of Spain and southwestern France.

In the Madrid region the white stuff was a foot deep (30centimetres) and this area of Spain had not seen any significant snowfall for 10 years.

Hundreds of roads were blocked and scores of motorists stranded in their vehicles. Two people were found frozen to death - one in the town of Zarzalejo, north-west of Madrid, and the other in the eastern city of Calatayud. All flights out of Madrid were cancelled for nearly 48 hours and many train services were halted by the snowstorm.

Even coastal areas experienced snow. This included the popular tourist beach resort Malaga and Mt Teide in Tenerife.

Trees buckled under the weight of the exceptional snowfall and branches were snapped off.

Troops were drafted in to help highway personnel clear blocked roads.

Heavier falls were logged across parts of central, northern, and eastern Spain with up to 50 centimetres or 20 inches of snow in places. Spain’s state meteorological agency (AEMET) acknowledged Storm Filomena produced the heaviest snowfall in the region since 1971 and overnight temperatures plummeted to around -10Celsius in some parts.

Many Spaniards took advantage of the winter wonderland enjoying snowball fights and skiing on snow-covered roads.

However, in southern Spain experienced torrential rainfall and flash flooding.