Else Beekman
A dramatic overnight storm delivered intense lightning, rain, hail and floods across Málaga Province. Thousands of lightning strikes and torrential downpours marked one of the region’s most powerful storms in recent memory.
Beginning at midnight on October 29, this isolated high-altitude depression, known as a DANA, sparked widespread flooding, property damage, and prompted over fifty emergency calls.
Vaya noche ⛈️⚡️ (Mijas,Málaga). @Storm_Malaga pic.twitter.com/H0izcbdvV5
— oibɒ|Ǝ (@Eladiogs) October 29, 2024
Residents across Málaga were awakened by the relentless storm. Social media channels were quickly filling up with videos capturing what some described as a “lightning festival.” The storm, which moved across the city, Costa del Sol, and the Guadalhorce Valley, saw rainfall accumulations of up to 84.5 litres per square metre in Cártama. The city of Málaga recorded 20 litres of rain between 4.00 am and 5.00 am, while other areas like Álora registered nearly 70 litres.
Motorways and properties affected by flooding
Although flooding was widespread, Málaga avoided severe floodings, despite the deluge leaving significant water pooling across various districts. The Málaga access points, along with industrial zones and roads near the airport, became submerged, with significant travel disruptions reported towards Torremolinos.
Three people rescued in Benalmádena
Heavy rainfall in the western Costa del Sol led to several floods and traffic warnings in Benalmádena, with an orange alert issued for the area. Between 2.00 am and 6.00 am, rainfall reached up to 70 litres per square metre in areas like Arroyo de la Miel and Benalmádena Costa. The intensity peaked at 5.40 am. in Torrequebrada, with 274 litres per hour recorded. The deluge prompted multiple fire brigade responses, including rescues of three people trapped in flooded cars. There were also reports of flooded homes and unstable walls across the city. In Alhaurín de la Torre, the municipal emergency plan was activated for minor incidents, such as fallen trees and overflowing drains
Heavy rain for the Axarquía region
The Axarquía region in Málaga’s eastern stretch also experienced heavy rain, intense lightning, and some hail from 10.00 pm to 3.00 am. The strong storm illuminated the night sky, flooding streets and buildings, and causing damage to infrastructure. Emergency services were on high alert, and by 8.00 am, rainfall in the region had reached 31 litres in Torre del Mar, 27.4 litres in Rincón de la Victoria, and over 21 litres in Alcaucín and Benamargosa.
Over fifty calls to emergency services and school closures
Throughout the night, Málaga’s 112 emergency service received more than fifty calls reporting basement floods, downed trees, and water obstructions in roadways across areas like Benalmádena, Alhaurín de la Torre, Cártama, and Marbella. One school, IES Valle del Sol in Álora, was forced to close after significant flooding, with classes suspended for the day. Firefighters tackled water removal in several properties, particularly in Torrox, Vélez-Málaga, and Campillos, where landslides and damaged signage required urgent intervention.
Difficult morning for traffic in Málaga
In Málaga, the powerful overnight storm has led to various road and traffic issues, including the closure of Avenida Lope de Vega due to road subsidence. Authorities have urged drivers to proceed cautiously, with water pooling reported in several areas of the city, such as José Calderón in Campanillas and sections of the MA-21 near Churriana. Congestion has also built up at common traffic bottlenecks, especially around the A-7, A-357, and MA-20 routes, leading to delays in key access points to the city.
Delays at Málaga airport due to a lightning strike
A lightning strike during a storm disrupted communications at Málaga Airport’s control tower early this morning, causing delays for nearly ten flights. The incident occurred around 8.00 am, affecting the tower’s system for about half an hour, though airport operations continued. Heavy thunderstorms overnight, which saw over 26,000 lightning strikes across Málaga along with rain and hail, intensified the disruptions.
Flights scheduled to depart between 5.00 am and 6.00 am faced delays of up to four hours. For example, a Swiss International flight to Zurich, set to depart at 5.35 am, eventually left at 9.00 am, while a Ryanair flight to Belfast, scheduled for 5.45 am, departed at 8.50 am. Incoming flights were also affected, with minor delays on arrivals from Madrid and Melilla. Further delays may be expected throughout the day.
Guadalhorce river at risk of overflowing
The Guadalhorce River in Cártama is at risk of overflowing after heavy rainfall, exceeding 100 litres per square metre overnight in areas like Álora and Cártama. This significant rainfall has led authorities to activate a red alert in several areas along the river. At the Paredones dam in Álora, water flow has surged to nearly 76 cubic metres per second, prompting heightened security measures.
The Estación de Cártama area is currently the most at risk, with monitoring in place by regional water officials, who are coordinating with local authorities and police. While the river has not yet overflowed, close observation continues to assess any potential damage. Additionally, the A-7057 road through Cártama has been affected.
Ongoing rain warnings across Málaga
The storm, though easing, continues to impact Málaga with rain expected to persist throughout the day. The Costa del Sol and Guadalhorce Valley areas remain under an orange alert until noon on Tuesday, with the potential for heavy rainfall reaching 30 litres per square metre in just one hour. The Axarquía region and Serranía de Ronda have a yellow alert for both rain and thunderstorms. Here, forecasts predicting up to 60 litres per square metre in 12 hours in some places.
The DANA has notably elevated river levels, with a significant rise recorded along the Turón River in El Burgo, contributing crucial water inflows to the Conde de Guadalhorce reservoir. Authorities continue to monitor rainfall and rising river levels, prepared for further emergency response as heavy showers continue across the region.
Also read: DANA brings heavy storms, rain and a chance of flooding on Monday