Storm Regina hits Spain: strong winds, rough seas and rain to sweep Mediterranean coast

After a rare dry spell in parts of Spain, Storm Regina is set to bring back unsettled weather this week, with strong gusts, maritime storms and fresh rain affecting several regions. Spain’s national weather agency, AEMET, has already activated yellow weather warnings in parts of the country as the Atlantic system moves in.

The new storm system, named Regina and classified as the 17th high-impact storm of the season, arrives just as meteorological spring begins. And for many areas that had briefly enjoyed calmer skies, the change will be noticeable.

AEMET warns of strong winds and coastal storms across Spain

According to AEMET, Regina will mainly affect the Canary Islands and large parts of southern and eastern mainland Spain, bringing very strong wind gusts and rough sea conditions.

Yellow warnings have been issued in several northern, southern and south-eastern areas. Wind gusts could reach up to 70km/h in parts of Andalucía, the Valencian Community and Galicia, creating potentially hazardous conditions, particularly in exposed coastal and elevated areas.

Maritime conditions are also expected to deteriorate, with rough seas forecast in affected coastal regions.

Rain returns to the Mediterranean coast from Tuesday

Weather models, including the European ECMWF model, indicate that from Tuesday, February 3, rainfall will spread towards the Mediterranean coastline.

Regions expected to see rain include Catalonia, the Valencian Community, Murcia and parts of Andalucía. In Catalonia, local meteorological services have suggested that precipitation will mainly affect coastal and pre-coastal areas, particularly in the northern and southern extremes of the region.

Rainfall is forecast to be mostly light, with modest accumulations, though conditions may feel markedly different after a week of relative stability.

A brief break after months of rain in Catalonia

The arrival of Regina comes after a rare pause in wet weather. Catalonia had just experienced its first dry weekend in nearly six months. The previous rain-free weekend dated back to early September, ending a streak of 23 consecutive weekends with rainfall somewhere in the region.

A persistent high-pressure system had temporarily brought calmer conditions, offering residents a short-lived break from months of repeated Atlantic storms and weather alerts.

That pause now appears to be over as Regina reintroduces Atlantic instability to large parts of the country during the first week of March.

While rainfall totals are not expected to be extreme, strong winds and coastal conditions remain the main concern, particularly in southern and eastern Spain.

As always, residents are advised to check official AEMET updates for the latest warnings and regional forecasts.