Spain has entered February under renewed weather pressure as Storm Leonardo brings a fresh sequence of Atlantic fronts across the country. Heavy rainfall, strong winds and an increasing risk of flooding are affecting large areas, with particular concern in Andalusia, Galicia, Castile and León and Extremadura.
Spain Press Editorial Team
According to forecasts from the Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (Aemet), the heaviest rainfall is expected in southern and north-western Spain. The storm has already caused widespread disruption to transport, infrastructure and power supply.
In Pontevedra, severe rain and rough seas forced the complete closure of the PO-11 dual carriageway, bringing traffic to a standstill between Marín and the provincial capital. Disruptions have also been reported in air and rail transport, with delays, diversions and cancellations across several regions.
The situation has been particularly challenging in the province of Seville, where around 20,000 households were left without electricity. Traffic problems intensified after a lorry overturned on the Puente del Centenario during strong gusts of wind. Meanwhile, the AP-4 motorway remained closed for more than five hours between Los Palacios y Villafranca and Las Cabezas de San Juan in the direction of Cádiz.
Beyond transport disruptions, attention is now turning to Spain’s river systems. Rising water levels are causing concern in parts of Jaén and Córdoba, while in Castile and León the Duero basin remains under close surveillance. Within just a few hours, the number of hydrological warning points has doubled to around 20, with several stretches still on red alert.
In Extremadura, the situation is also being closely monitored. Multiple gauging stations in the Tajo basin have exceeded the highest alert thresholds, prompting authorities to activate precautionary measures and continuous monitoring.
Emergency services and regional authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant, avoid unnecessary travel and stay away from riverbanks and flood-prone areas. Meteorologists warn that the unsettled weather is likely to persist in the coming days, marking a wet and unstable start to February across much of Spain.
