Else Beekman
The lingering effects of Hurricane Leslie, now downgraded to a storm, continue to cause significant rainfall and strong winds across nine regions in Spain, leading to yellow weather warnings.
The Spanish Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has issued alerts for rainfall that could accumulate up to 15 litres per square metre in just one hour, with warnings in place for both rain and wind in several communities.
Southern Spain
In southern Spain, Andalucía remains on yellow alert in the provinces of Cádiz, Córdoba, Huelva, Málaga, and Sevilla. Extremadura is also under warning for heavy rainfall that could be accompanied by thunderstorms. Additionally, regions further north, including Asturias, Ávila, and Salamanca, face similar weather conditions. The central areas of Castilla-La Mancha and the Pyrenean regions are also bracing for downpours, with the potential for flash flooding in some areas.
Widespread alerts across Spain
Other regions under yellow alert include parts of Aragón, Catalonia, and Navarra, where gusts of wind are expected to reach up to 80 kilometres per hour. In Madrid, only the Sierra area remains under weather warnings for the heavy rainfall forecasted to continue through Wednesday.
Even the Canary Islands are not spared, with Lanzarote, La Palma, and Tenerife set to experience torrential rains of 15 litres per square metre in an hour or between 40 and 60 litres over a 12-hour period. Meanwhile, the autonomous city of Ceuta is also under yellow alert for rain.
The Aemet has clarified that while the yellow alert does not generally pose a serious risk to the population, it may impact certain activities, and caution is advised.
Rising water levels in Pyrenean rivers
The Ebro River Basin Authority (CHE) has warned of potential flooding in rivers throughout the Pyrenees, including the Irati, Noguera, and Segre rivers. With persistent rainfall predicted, water levels are expected to rise significantly, particularly along the upper reaches of the Ebro and its tributaries. In some areas, rainfall could exceed 30 litres per square metre in just one hour, with accumulations reaching 50 litres in parts of the Pyrenees.
Local authorities are closely monitoring smaller rivers and ravines in the north-eastern two-thirds of the basin, where flash floods could occur due to the intense and prolonged rain. While the worst of the flooding is not expected until later in the week, the authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant.
The adverse weather is expected to persist through Thursday, with conditions not expected to ease until Friday or even Saturday in some areas.
Also read: Heavy rain and storms expected in Valencia: Yellow alert activated