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Severe weather warnings remain in place for eastern Spain as Storm Alice continues to batter the Mediterranean coast.
Heavy rains caused flash floods in Catalonia over the weekend, turning roads in some tourist areas into rivers of mud.
Videos shared online showed the vehicle being swept away by a torrent of brown water as emergency services rescued a driver trapped in the submerged car.
The worst may not be over. Spain’s National Weather Service Emet today issued a red warning for parts of Valencia, warning that up to 100mm of rain could fall in just an hour.
Civil protection authorities urged residents to stay indoors and warned that the situation could worsen in the coming days.
“The situation is complicated and more rain is expected,” Cristina Vicente, a senior official at Catalonia’s civil protection agency, told Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia on Sunday.
Travel disruptions continue across the Mediterranean coast
No deaths have been reported so far, but 18 people have been injured, including one seriously, and the storm has caused a number of travellers. confusion.
train services between Barcelona and Valencia suspended services along the Mediterranean Corridor, affecting more than 3,000 passengers.
The AP-7 motorway was closed between Freginals and Urdekona, and military emergency forces were called in to assist with drainage and debris removal.
in Balearic Islandsheavy rain and wind wreaked havoc on air travel.
Ibiza Airport temporarily suspended operations on Sunday night after parts of its runway and terminal were flooded, forcing at least 24 flights to be canceled or delayed. Emergency services also rescued several people trapped in vehicles on the island.
Yellow and orange weather warnings remain in place ibiza and Formentera until Tuesday. Up to 50 millimeters could be visible within an hour in some areas.
More rain forecast for the rest of the week
Amemet has issued an orange warning for the coastal areas of Alicante, Valencia and Castellon, warning that heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected to continue throughout the week.
Up to 300mm of rain could fall in some areas before the storm subsides, which is expected to fall on Saturday, October 18th.
Storm Alice is classified as “DANA” (short for Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos), or high-level isolated depression.
These unique weather systems form when pockets of cold air leave the polar jet stream and settle in the warm Mediterranean Sea.
Although significant DANA events typically occur once or twice a decade, the combination of extreme rain and flooding they cause can be devastating.
In October 2024, Valencia I was struck by one of the most intense DANAs of modern times. Catastrophic flooding killed more than 200 people and caused widespread destruction. nationwide anger against officials accused of fumbling the response.
This week’s storms have been less severe so far, but authorities are still urging caution as the combination of saturated soil and heavy rain raises the risk of flash flooding and traffic disruptions across Spain’s east coast.