Else Beekman
The deadly tornado that struck Coria del Río near Seville on 4 April 2025 has once again exposed the destructive force of extreme weather in Spain. Three people lost their lives when Storm Nuria tore through a farm warehouse. Few realise just how frequently tornadoes strike in Spain.
While tornadoes are typically associated with the United States, Spain registers between 22 and 29 such events annually. The coastal regions of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and the Gulf of Cádiz are particularly prone.
Spain among Europe’s tornado hotspots
A joint study by the University of Barcelona and Andorra Recerca + Innovació confirms according to Telecinco that Spain is a significant European hotspot for tornado activity. Researchers analysed 608 tornadoes recorded between 1950 and 2021. Of these, around 9%—or approximately 55 tornadoes—were classified as strong (EF2 or higher), with wind speeds reaching 200 km/h or more.
Tornadoes in Spain are most likely in regions where warm, moist air meets unstable atmospheric conditions. This makes the eastern Mediterranean coast and southern areas around the Gulf of Cádiz especially vulnerable.
While Spain does not top the list of European countries in total tornado counts, it remains one of the most tornado-prone nations in the Mediterranean basin. Its combination of coastal geography and climatic volatility makes it a consistent zone of concern for meteorologists.
The role of climate change
Direct links between climate change and tornado frequency remain under investigation. However, warmer sea surface temperatures and higher humidity over the Mediterranean are influencing more intense and erratic weather systems.
One related phenomenon is DANA (Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos). These high-altitude isolated depressions, increasingly frequent in Spain, can generate violent storms, hail, and even tornadoes—particularly along the coast. Recent analyses suggest that DANA events are intensifying in both frequency and severity, raising the likelihood of tornadic activity.
Meteorologists and climatologists are warning that climate change may not only shift where tornadoes occur but also increase their potential impact. With Spain’s varied geography and exposure to both Atlantic and Mediterranean systems, the country is particularly vulnerable to these evolving patterns.
Recent and historical tornado events
On 4 April 2025, a deadly tornado struck Coria del Río near Seville, killing three people and causing extensive damage to an agricultural warehouse. The victims included two brothers, one of whom had worked in the facility for over two decades.
In March 2025, a tornado hit La Algaba, also in the province of Seville, tearing roofs from buildings and damaging the power grid. Just a day earlier, on 8 March, another tornado caused severe damage to industrial premises in Alcalá del Río.
On 11 February 2025, a tornado hit the community of Pozo del Camino in Huelva, damaging over 30 homes, downing trees and power lines, and toppling freestanding masonry walls.
Earlier, on 27 January 2025, a strong tornado struck Torre de Juan Abad in Castilla-La Mancha. Roofs were ripped off homes, olive trees snapped like matchsticks, and walls crumbled under the wind’s force in Torre de Juan Abad—leaving €1.5 million worth of damage.
Historically, Spain has also seen some devastating tornadoes:
- In 1671, Cádiz was hit by a tornado that killed more than 60 people.
- On 12 May 1886, a powerful tornado struck Madrid, killing 47. The areas of Carabanchel and El Retiro suffered severe damage.
- In 1978, Seville’s airport was damaged when a tornado lifted a café built from a plane and moved it several metres.
- In 1999, a tornado with wind speeds of 300 km/h destroyed a large forested area in Teruel.
- In 2007, Mallorca was hit by a storm and tornado that left one dead and 8,500 homes without power.
Spain’s growing risk of extreme weather
Although Spanish tornadoes tend to be less powerful than those in the US, they can still cause significant local destruction and danger for people. As weather patterns shift in response to a warming climate, Spain may see even more frequent and severe events, meteorologists warn that both the frequency and intensity of tornadoes may increase in the future.
A recent survey found that over 75% of Spaniards believe natural disasters will become more common over the next decade. Tornado data appears to support that concern.
Tornado activity across Europe
While Spain is clearly exposed to tornadic risks, other European countries experience even higher frequencies. Between 1950 and 2015, Germany recorded more than 1,000 tornadoes—making it one of Europe’s most tornado-affected nations. The United Kingdom and France also report significant numbers, with 437 and 396 tornadoes respectively over the same period.
These figures highlight that although Spain faces a serious and growing threat, it is not alone. Its risk profile is exceeded by several northern and central European countries.
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