Lorraine Williamson
Torrential rain has caused flooding and widespread disruption across parts of eastern Spain, with Valencia and Cartagena among the areas worst affected during the latest Mediterranean storm episode.
The severe weather has also reached Almería, where schools were closed in three municipalities and roads were affected on Thursday. Further warnings are already in place for parts of Almería and Granada on Friday.
Valencia hit by exceptionally intense rainfall
Valencia and its metropolitan area are recovering after exceptionally intense rainfall caused flooding, transport disruption and hundreds of emergency incidents.
València city recorded as much as 81.5 litres per square metre, while Torrent received almost 96 litres. Around 71 litres fell in just half an hour in Torrent, producing local flooding and leaving motorists caught by rapidly rising water.
Emergency services received more than 1,000 calls, while hundreds of incidents were dealt with across the affected area. Fallen trees, flooded homes and public buildings, road closures and people requiring assistance were among the consequences.
Nearly 95,000 pupils were affected by school closures across 13 municipalities in Valencia and Alicante provinces. Rail, Metrovalencia and airport operations were also disrupted during the worst of the storm, although services progressively returned towards normal on Thursday.
Red weather warning triggered in Cartagena
The storm then brought particularly intense conditions to the Region of Murcia.
AEMET temporarily raised the warning for Campo de Cartagena and Mazarrón to red, indicating extraordinary danger, prompting ES-Alert emergency messages advising residents to avoid unnecessary journeys and stay away from flooded areas, ramblas and watercourses.
More than 70 litres per square metre were recorded in parts of Cartagena, with the Los Patojos rain gauge recording 75.6 litres. Schools and other public facilities were closed across numerous municipalities as a precaution.
Flooding affected roads and parts of Cartagena, while emergency services carried out rescues and dealt with water entering properties and obstacles in public areas. No serious injuries were reported.
The red warning was subsequently downgraded as conditions improved, and some rail services suspended because of the severe weather were able to resume.
Storms disrupt schools and roads in Almería
Eastern Andalucía has also been affected by the unsettled weather.
The Junta de Andalucía suspended in-person classes in Pulpí, Huércal-Overa and Cuevas del Almanzora on Thursday because of the orange rain warning in eastern Almería. An ES-Alert had also been sent to mobile phones in the affected area warning of the risk from heavy rain and thunderstorms.
Road problems included a closure in Cuevas del Almanzora and rockfalls affecting another route. Pulpí also suffered an electricity interruption during the storm.
The orange warning had forecast the possibility of 50 litres per square metre in one hour and 100 litres over 12 hours in eastern Almería.
Where are the weather warnings on Friday?
The severe-weather episode is not completely over.
On Friday 18 September, yellow warnings for rain and thunderstorms will affect several areas of Almería and Granada between 2pm and 8pm, with rainfall potentially reaching 15 litres per square metre in an hour.
In Almería, the warnings cover Valle del Almanzora and Los Vélez, Nacimiento and Campo de Tabernas, and Poniente and Almería city. In Granada province, Guadix and Baza, and Nevada and Alpujarras are affected.
AEMET is forecasting developing cloud over Andalucía’s mountain areas during Friday afternoon, with occasional showers that could become locally heavy and be accompanied by thunderstorms, particularly in the east of the region.
AEMET’s coastal forecast also warns of the possibility of very heavy rain and thunderstorms along eastern Almería’s coast into Friday morning.
What to do during torrential rain in Spain
Emergency authorities are reminding people not to underestimate flooded roads, ramblas or normally dry watercourses.
Andalucía’s Emergency Agency advises drivers never to attempt to cross a flooded section of road. If water begins rising around a vehicle, occupants should leave it where safe to do so and move towards higher ground.
People are also advised not to park or camp in dry riverbeds or beside rivers during periods of heavy rain because sudden increases in water levels can occur with little warning.
Anyone in an affected area should continue checking current AEMET warnings and follow instructions issued by 112, Protección Civil and local authorities, particularly because thunderstorms can be highly localised and conditions may change quickly.