Lorraine Williamson
The Spanish meteorological agency, AEMET, has issued orange and yellow weather alerts due to expected heavy and persistent rainfall across multiple regions.
The most affected areas include:
- Comunidad Valenciana: Interior and coastal areas of Castellón and Valencia are under orange alert, with up to 100 litres per square metre of rain forecasted within 12 hours.
- Región de Murcia: The Vega del Segura region is under yellow alert, with potential rainfall of up to 80 litres per square metre in 12 hours.
- Provincia de Almería: Areas such as Valle del Almanzora, Los Vélez, and Levante Almeriense are on orange alert, expecting up to 80 litres per square metre in 12 hours.
Forecast and potential impacts
The heavy rainfall is expected to last until Friday, March 7. Some locations will potentially accumulate more than 400 litres per square metre over the course of the storm. The risk of flooding, road closures, and landslides is particularly high in coastal and mountainous areas.
In addition, strong easterly winds will impact the Mediterranean coast and eastern Castilla-La Mancha, increasing the possibility of damage to infrastructure. The Balearic Islands and southeastern Spain could also experience mud rain due to airborne dust (calima).
Recent incidents and emergency response
The severe weather has already caused multiple incidents:
- Murcia: A 50-year-old farmer was swept away by flash floods and tragically lost his life.
- Ronda, Málaga: Roads have turned into rivers, leading to landslides and falling trees, with emergency services responding to dozens of calls.
Authorities are urging residents and travellers to stay updated on weather warnings and avoid unnecessary travel.
Beware of SMS scam related to weather alerts
The Guardia Civil has issued a fraud warning about a new phishing scam targeting people via SMS messages.
⚠️ Official warning on X (formerly Twitter) by the Guardia Civil:
🛑 Do not click on the link 🛑
📢 With the heavy rain warnings, a new SMS scam has been detected. Fraudsters are sending fake messages pretending to be AEMET and directing users to a malicious link that asks for personal data.
✅ Always check official sources for weather and road updates:
- Traffic conditions: @InformacionDGT | @DGTes
- Weather alerts: @AEMET_Esp
- Emergency updates: @proteccioncivil
The fake messages often urge recipients to download an app via a fraudulent link, such as “aemet.blog” (which is not an official website). Authorities strongly advise against clicking any links or sharing personal data.
Safety recommendations
- Monitor official sources like AEMET, DGT, and Protección Civil for real-time updates.
- Avoid driving in flood-prone areas.
- Do not click on links in suspicious SMS messages.
- Secure outdoor objects that could be affected by strong winds.
With heavy rains expected to persist, authorities urge caution and preparedness to minimise risks and ensure safety.