The worst is already over, but heavy rain is expected to continue until Thursday and to a lesser extent until Sunday. A historic storm hit the Valencian Community, causing over 445 liters per square meter of rainfall and leaving a trail of destruction with several deaths in Valencia and six people missing in Albacete. The storm will move from the central and eastern parts of the country to the northeast on Wednesday, with a second focus in western Andalusia, though not expected to be as severe as on Tuesday. Ten communities and Ceuta are on alert for rain, storms, wind, or rough seas, with the most severe conditions expected in Andalusia, Aragon, Castilla-La Mancha, Catalonia, and the Valencian Community. The rest, including the Balearic Islands, Castilla y León, Madrid, Navarra, La Rioja, and the autonomous city, have a lower-level yellow alert.
The storm caused multiple deaths in Valencia, with at least six people missing in the town of Letur in Albacete, while hundreds were trapped in homes or vehicles, roads were closed, tornados occurred, and swollen rivers and streams carried away everything in their path. Andalusia experienced over 600 incidents, with 291 in Málaga alone, where 176 liters per square meter fell and a high-speed train derailed without injuries. Another focus was in Almería with 141 incidents, particularly in El Ejido, where hailstorms and strong winds destroyed thousands of hectares of greenhouses, flooded roads, and damaged hundreds of parked vehicles.
The worst impact was felt in the Valencian Community, where the president announced that emergency services had found bodies in some areas, not providing further details out of respect for the families who had not yet received confirmation. The rainfall data was unprecedented, with 201 liters recorded in Turís, 140 in Carcaixent, 131 in Chelva, and 118 in Barx in Valencia. Unofficial networks reported even higher amounts of rainfall, with some areas receiving over 400 liters per square meter. The situation prompted the activation of the Military Emergencies Unit in Utiel, where the Magro River overflowed, leading to numerous rescues and flooding in homes and vehicles.
In Castilla-La Mancha, there were 54 incidents, with Letur in Albacete experiencing significant damage due to flooding caused by nearly 200 liters of rainfall in the headwaters of the river. The small town is currently searching for six missing residents as the community reels from the impact of the storm. The next few days will see the storm system moving towards the northwest, centered mainly in the southwest of the peninsula, leading to heavy and persistent rains in western Andalusia and the Strait of Gibraltar. Additionally, there will be significant rainfall in the southern Aragon and northern Valencian Community and Catalonia.
The forecast for Thursday and Friday indicates that the storm will continue west of the Peninsula, affecting areas in Extremadura and western Andalusia with lighter showers in the Mediterranean compared to previous days. Over the weekend, there is a possibility of increased instability in the Mediterranean region and repeated heavy rainfall, though the uncertainty in the trajectory and intensity of the storm hinders accurate predictions. The most likely scenario suggests a weakening and southeastward movement of the storm by the end of the weekend, with rain decreasing in intensity across much of the Peninsula. However, instability is expected to persist in the Mediterranean area, possibly leading to strong and persistent storms in the Balearic Islands, Valencian Community, and Catalonia. A gradual reduction in rainfall is anticipated on Sunday as the storm dissipates.
