Six Spanish regions under weather warnings as severe flooding causes widespread disruption. Valencia faces the threat of up to 300 litres of rain per square metre in just 24 hours, while Andalusia is also on alert.
Spain Expat Press Editorial Team
Spain is bracing for further severe weather as a powerful isolated low-pressure system, known as DANA Adam, brings torrential rain, flooding and dangerous conditions to several parts of the country.
The storm, which swept across Spain over the weekend, has prompted weather warnings in six autonomous communities: Catalonia, Valencia, Murcia, Andalusia, Extremadura and the Balearic Islands.
The most serious warnings concern the Valencian Community, where Spain’s national meteorological agency, AEMET, has issued its highest-level red alert amid forecasts of exceptionally heavy rainfall.
Valencia Faces Extreme Rainfall as Red Alert Takes Effect
The Valencian Community is at the centre of the weather emergency, with rainfall accumulations potentially reaching 300 litres per square metre within 24 hours.
According to information published this morning, the red weather warning was due to come into effect at 10am.
Such extraordinary rainfall can overwhelm drainage systems, flood roads and transform normally dry riverbeds into dangerous torrents within minutes.
Authorities have urged residents to avoid unnecessary journeys in affected areas and never attempt to drive through floodwater, regardless of how shallow it may appear.
Woman Missing After Being Swept into a Watercourse in Catalonia
The dangers posed by the storm have already become apparent in Catalonia, where emergency services are searching for a woman who reportedly fell into a flooded watercourse in Cabrera de Mar, a municipality in the Maresme district north of Barcelona.
Firefighters continued their search throughout Saturday night and into Sunday morning, supported by the Mossos d’Esquadra, local police and maritime rescue services.
Nine emergency response units were reported to be involved in the operation.
Elsewhere in Barcelona province, emergency teams have rescued people trapped in vehicles and flooded properties as heavy rainfall caused significant disruption.
The search remained ongoing as of Sunday morning.
Andalusia, Murcia and the Balearic Islands Also Affected
Although the most severe warnings are concentrated in eastern Spain, the effects of DANA Adam extend well beyond the Valencian Community and Catalonia.
Weather alerts have also been issued across parts of Andalusia, Murcia, the Balearic Islands and southern Extremadura.
For foreign residents and visitors, particularly those unfamiliar with Spain’s rapidly changing weather conditions, the authorities’ advice is clear: remain informed and take local warnings seriously.
Low-lying roads, underpasses and dry riverbeds can become particularly hazardous during intense rainfall.
Not all areas within the affected regions face the same level of danger, however. Conditions can vary considerably between neighbouring municipalities, making local forecasts and official warnings especially important.
What Is a DANA – and Why Can It Be So Dangerous?
DANA stands for Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos, the Spanish meteorological term for an isolated depression at high altitude.
These systems develop when a pocket of cold air becomes separated from the main atmospheric circulation.
When that cold air interacts with warm, moisture-laden air from the Mediterranean, it can create conditions favourable for intense thunderstorms and prolonged downpours.
In some circumstances, rain-bearing storms remain over the same area for hours, producing exceptional accumulations of water and increasing the risk of flash flooding.
However, not every DANA results in destructive flooding. The severity depends on several factors, including atmospheric conditions, local geography, soil saturation and the duration of rainfall.
What Residents and Visitors Should Know
Spain’s emergency services advise people in affected areas to follow official weather warnings issued by AEMET and regional civil protection authorities.
Driving through flooded roads should be avoided under all circumstances, while walking near rivers, ravines or normally dry watercourses can also pose serious risks.
Residents in flood-prone areas should pay particular attention to emergency notifications and local authority instructions.
Spain’s nationwide emergency telephone number is 112.
The Next Few Hours Could Prove Critical
Forecasters expect the effects of DANA Adam to continue over the coming days, although the severity of rainfall will depend on the storm system’s development and movement.
For now, attention remains focused on the Valencian Community, where exceptionally heavy rainfall has been forecast, and on Catalonia, where emergency services are continuing their search for the missing woman.
With several regions simultaneously facing adverse weather conditions, residents and visitors are being urged to remain vigilant.
Spain Expat Press will continue to follow developments as the situation evolves.
