Else Beekman
The Spanish weather agency AEMET has named its first high-impact DANA: Alice. The system is currently bringing intense rainfall to eastern Spain and the Balearic Islands, particularly Ibiza and Mallorca, which are still recovering from last week’s floods.
The decision to assign names to significant DANAs (Isolated High-Level Depressions) aims to improve public awareness, speed up responses from authorities, and reduce confusion. The naming system follows the same logic as that used for severe storms in Europe.
What is a DANA?
A DANA – short for Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos – is an isolated pocket of cold air at high altitude. When this system interacts with warm, humid air from the sea, it can trigger extreme weather such as torrential rain, hail, thunderstorms, or even snow.
Although not all DANAs result in severe weather, some can cause major disruption, as witnessed during the devastating floods in Valencia in October 2024. AEMET now names only those systems deemed high-risk, to help avoid unnecessary alarm.
Why give DANAs a name?
Since 2017, Spain has collaborated with other European countries in naming severe storms as part of the EUMETNET programme, which includes France, Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg and Andorra. The recent update means that DANAs expected to cause dangerous conditions will now also receive official names.
The benefits of naming include:
- Clearer communication with the public and media
- Faster response and preparation from emergency services
- Consistent messaging across different platforms
- Improved documentation for future weather analysis
AEMET uses a pre-approved list of 21 alternating male and female names for each season. The first DANA or storm of the year is called Alice, followed by Benjamin, Claudia, Davide, Emilia, and so on.
Red weather alert for southern Alicante and Murcia
For Friday, AEMET has issued a red weather warning for parts of southern Alicante and Murcia due to the risk of torrential downpours and potential flash flooding. Rainfall could reach up to 60mm in just one hour, and as much as 180mm over 12 hours in some areas. Local authorities in Murcia have already announced school closures between 10am and midnight on Friday as a precaution. Residents are urged to follow guidance from civil protection services and avoid flood-prone zones.
Orange alerts for Ibiza and Formentera
DANA Alice has already prompted orange weather warnings for Ibiza and Formentera, where localised downpours could bring up to 100 litres of rain per square metre in just four hours. These islands are still on high alert after last week’s floods, which required military intervention in some areas.
AEMET attributes the unstable weather to a cold air mass at high altitude combining with warm, moist air from the Mediterranean. The effects are expected to peak on Thursday, with falling daytime temperatures, increasing northerly winds, and persistent cloud cover.
Rain is forecast to continue through Friday and Saturday, possibly accompanied by thunderstorms. On Mallorca, authorities are closely monitoring the situation but had not issued warnings at the time of writing.
Only named in severe cases
Not every DANA will receive a name. AEMET only applies naming when an orange or red alert is issued. Orange signifies a significant risk to people and infrastructure, while red indicates extreme danger.
The naming initiative is part of a broader European strategy to improve communication about climate-related hazards. With extreme weather events becoming more frequent, timely and accurate information can be crucial for preventing damage and saving lives.
Record warmth in Mediterranean Sea raises fears of autumn floods in Valencia