Showers and storms across Spain bring flood risk this weekend
Usagevpn.com – Showers and storms across Spain have brought dangerous flooding to parts of the country, with a 102-year-old woman dying after flash floods hit Madrigueras in Albacete province. The unstable weather is expected to continue through the weekend, bringing heavy rain, thunderstorms and possible hail to several regions.
On Friday, 142 litres of rain per square metre fell in Madrigueras, flooding streets and homes. Water reportedly reached around one metre inside the house where the woman was found.
Emergency services carried out about 90 rescues from Friday afternoon into the early hours of the night. Many calls came from residents trapped in homes or worried by rapidly rising water.
Castilla-La Mancha activated its Adverse Meteorological Risk Plan, known as METEOCAM, at operational level 1. Civil Guard officers remained in Madrigueras on Saturday during the clean-up operation, while regional president Emiliano García-Page visited the town.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed condolences to the woman’s relatives and support for people affected by the flooding.
“All my love to the relatives of the woman who has died as a result of the flooding, and all our support and solidarity to the affected residents.”
Weather alerts for heavy rain and thunderstorms
The deadly flooding came during a wider spell of unsettled weather across mainland Spain. Heavy rain overnight and on Friday morning also affected Tarragona and Castellón, with the Lower Ebro area among the places reporting significant disruption.
By Friday afternoon, orange alerts were in force for Tarragona, the Valencia region and the Balearic Islands. Warnings also covered Murcia and the provinces of Almería, Granada and Albacete, where storms could be strong and accompanied by hail.
A red alert was issued for torrential rain along the Tarragona coast early on Saturday. Heavy rainfall was also possible in Extremadura, Salamanca, the Central System and Aragon.
From around midday on Saturday, showers and storms across Spain could develop in almost any part of the peninsula. The Iberian System, southeastern mountain ranges, the Pyrenees, the northwestern quadrant, the Balearic Islands and Mediterranean coastal areas face a risk of intense storms and hail.
Western Galicia and the Canary Islands have a lower chance of storm activity. Temperatures are expected to rise in Galicia, Aragon, Navarre, the Basque Country and the Canary Islands, while Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and inland areas may become cooler.
Sunday outlook and possible DANA formation
Sunday is forecast to remain wet and stormy across much of Spain. Forecasters are monitoring the possible formation of a DANA, a high-altitude low-pressure system that can move slowly and produce episodes of torrential rainfall.
If the system forms, it could increase the risk of further heavy rain across the western half of mainland Spain. It would not necessarily bring rainfall greater than the recent downpours in Tarragona and Castellón, but severe weather could affect additional areas.
Rain and thunderstorms may be especially strong early on Sunday along the Cantabrian coast, in Catalonia and across the Balearic Islands. Later, locally intense showers are expected to become more widespread through central and northern Spain, while the southern third has a lower chance of significant rain.
Only the Galician coastline is expected to see broadly clear or lightly cloudy skies for much of Sunday. Elsewhere, conditions may change quickly, with warm weather giving way to heavy rain, hail and thunderstorms.
FAQ: Staying safe during storms in Spain
Which areas face the greatest risk? Tarragona, the Valencia region, the Balearic Islands, Murcia, Almería, Granada and Albacete are among the areas covered by weather warnings. Local conditions can change quickly, so residents and travellers should follow official alerts.
What should I do during a flash-flood warning? Avoid driving through flooded roads, keep away from riverbeds and low-lying areas, and do not enter water-covered streets. Move to a safe location if authorities issue instructions for your area.
Will showers and storms across Spain continue after Saturday? Sunday is also expected to bring rain and thunderstorms to many areas, particularly in central and northern Spain, as forecasters watch for a possible DANA.
