Lorraine Williamson
Eastern Spain is once again under siege from violent weather. On Tuesday, the Spanish meteorological agency AEMET issued an orange alert across Alicante, Murcia, Valencia, and the Balearic Islands, warning of torrential rainfall, storms, and the risk of flooding.
In Alicante province, lessons were suspended in schools from Elche to Orihuela, with closures stretching through Redován, Callosa del Segura, Sant Joan, Albatera, Rafal, Cox and Santa Pola. Both the University of Alicante and Miguel Hernández University also cancelled classes.
Municipalities rushed to lock down public spaces. Alicante city barred entry to its parks, gardens and the hilltop Castillo de Santa Bárbara. El Campello took the additional step of calling off cultural and sporting events, while urging staff to work from home.
The force of the reventón húmedo
The emergency measures followed a sudden reventón húmedo, or wet downburst, that barrelled through the Vega Baja late on Monday. Wind gusts of up to 100 km/h toppled power lines and left thousands without electricity. Orihuela was plunged into darkness when a high-voltage line gave way. In nearby Redován and Callosa del Segura, emergency lines fielded dozens of calls as roofs and roads bore the brunt of the storm.
Wider impact across eastern Spain
The Balearics are bracing for as much as 50 litres of rainfall per square metre in an hour, with accumulations of up to 140 litres possible in the space of an afternoon. Thunderstorms, hail and fierce winds are expected to add to the disruption.
Murcia faces downpours of 30 litres per hour, particularly in the Vega del Segura and Altiplano. Southern Valencia and northern Alicante could see up to 100 litres of rainfall within twelve hours, threatening flash floods in low-lying zones.
Emergency services on full alert
Police, firefighters and civil protection teams have been mobilised across the region. Parks and sports centres remain shut, and residents have been urged to avoid flood-prone areas, ravines and underpasses. In city parks, large trees are being inspected to prevent collapses under sodden ground and gale-force winds.
Echoes of past disasters
The system is forecast to linger into Wednesday, prolonging the risk of sudden flooding and severe storms. Authorities warn that vigilance remains crucial, with memories still raw from the deadly DANA storm of 2024, when record rainfall devastated parts of the southeast.