VALENCIA – In Spain, severe storms and heavy rain is expected in the centre and southern half of the peninsula in the coming hours. But flooding may occur especially in the Valencia region and the west of the Balearic Islands.
The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) maintains the yellow alarm that was activated this Wednesday due to the risk of heavy rains and storms in Andalucia, Aragon, Castilla-La Mancha, Catalonia, Extremadura and the Valencian Community.
Heavy rain
In addition, at the end of the afternoon, the orange alarm (significant risk) will be activated in the Balearic Islands. Here, it is expected for up to 50 litres of precipitation per square metre on the Ibiza and Formentera islands.
Aemet spokesman, Rubén del Campo, reports that in the evening and night of today, Wednesday, abundant rain is also expected. This will concentrate in the central zone, the southern half and the Mediterranean, where 15 to 20 litres of water per square metre, mainly in the interior could accumulate.
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However, the most intense rainfall on the peninsula is expected in the Valencian Community. Here, between 30 and 35 litres of rainwater per square metre could be collected in just one hour. That is why there is a warning in this area about the danger of flooding. There is a good chance that the heavy rain will be accompanied by thunderstorms. This is especially true on Wednesday evening, where there is a chance of strong wind gusts and hail showers.
Thursday
On Thursday, Aemet announces that unstable weather continues to dominate the Mediterranean. The Valencian community, the region of Murcia and the Balearic Islands will be particularly affected with strong showers.
Friday
On Friday, the first day of autumn, storms will intensify in the northern half of Spain, especially in Navarra, La Rioja, Aragón and Catalonia, and over the weekend rains and strong showers may continue in that area and the east of the peninsula. In those areas, the temperature is dropping.
Saturday
From Saturday, Aemet predicts locally intense rain showers in the Canary archipelago, which will mainly affect the western islands and Gran Canaria and may be accompanied by very strong wind gusts in the mountain areas.
Possible tropical cyclone
Del Campo further reported that this precipitation is associated with a tropical wave moving from the interior of the African continent to the west coast. It may intensify into a tropical cyclone in the next five days. The Aemet spokesperson emphasised that predictions like this are subject to many uncertainties.
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