Storm Leonardo continues to impact large parts of Spain this Thursday, bringing very strong winds and persistent rainfall that have prompted weather alerts in Ceuta and 13 autonomous regions, according to the Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (Aemet).
While conditions are expected to gradually ease from Friday onwards, the respite will be short-lived. Forecasts point to the arrival of a new Atlantic storm system on Saturday, which is likely to prolong the period of unsettled weather into the weekend.
Spain Press Editorial Team
Strong winds pose the main risk
Wind is the most critical factor today. Gusts between 70 and 100 km/h are expected across wide areas, particularly in southern Spain, exposed coastal zones and mountainous regions. The north-eastern part of the peninsula is expected to be less affected.
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Orange alert: Andalusia and Castilla-La Mancha
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Yellow alert: Aragon, Balearic Islands, Cantabria, Castile and León, Extremadura, Galicia, Madrid, Murcia, Navarre, La Rioja and the Valencian Community
According to Meteored, inland areas of the Valencian Community, mountain ranges around Jaén and north-eastern parts of Albacete province could see gusts close to 100 km/h. In high-altitude areas such as Sierra Nevada and Sierra de Segura, peak gusts of up to 120 km/h cannot be ruled out.
Persistent rainfall and very high accumulations
Leonardo continues to drive a moist Atlantic flow, bringing widespread and persistent rainfall, particularly during the first half of Thursday. The most affected areas include Andalusia, central Spain and Galicia.
The highest rainfall totals are expected in mountainous regions exposed to westerly and south-westerly winds, including parts of the Central System, the southern plateau and the north-west of the Iberian Peninsula.
In the Baetic mountain ranges, where the ground is already saturated after recent heavy rainfall, Aemet warns that local accumulations could exceed 300 litres per square metre over the course of Thursday and Friday.
Showers, thunderstorms and hail
The passage of a cold front, followed by an influx of colder air, will lead to heavy showers, which could be accompanied by thunderstorms and hail, particularly in western Spain, with Galicia among the regions most at risk.
