Spain on alert as heavy rain and storms threaten Mediterranean coast this weekend

Spain is preparing for a dramatic change in the weather this weekend, when heavy rains, storms and a sharp drop in temperatures are expected in several tourist resorts on the coast. The Mediterranean coast and Balearic Islands are the most exposed, with forecasters warning of persistent rains from Saturday, October 17.

The State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has issued a special weather warning, and the Ministry of the Interior has also warned residents and tourists to take the necessary measures to deal with the dangerous weather conditions.

This change of weather comes after several days of unusually high temperatures for mid-October. A weather system in development, involving a DANA, could bring rain to parts of eastern and southern Spain, but meteorologists say that the exact location and intensity of the rain is still uncertain.

Spain weather warning: Which areas face the heaviest rain?

According to the official bulletin of the AEMET on October 15, the weather is expected to deteriorate from Saturday, with showers and thunderstorms developing in the interior, later spreading to the Mediterranean and the Balearic Islands.

Sunday, October 18, could bring some of the most difficult conditions, especially in coastal and near-coastal areas, where the rain may become both intense and persistent.

The latest forecasts point to several areas of concern, such as the coasts of eastern Catalonia, the Alicante and Murcia regions, and parts of the Costa del Sol.

Ibiza and Formentera are among the places that will face particularly threatening conditions. An orange alert has been issued for the weekend. Parts of Barcelona and Girona are also under yellow alert, with the rainfall expected to reach 30 litres per square metre in an hour.

In the province of Alicante yellow warnings were issued for Saturday afternoon and evening, with the same likelihood of very heavy rainfall.

However, such warnings do not mean that all the towns in the affected areas will experience bad weather. The rainfall associated with such a system varies considerably in a relatively short distance.

Also, there is a possibility of a considerable rainfall in some Mediterranean areas on Sunday and Monday, the amount of which depends on how the weather system develops.

Why a DANA could bring intense storms and colder temperatures

The expected deterioration is due to changes in atmospheric circulation over Europe. High pressure over the British Isles and the North Sea allows cold air to descend southward towards Spain. At the same time, an upper-level trough could develop into a DANA, the Spanish name for an isolated upper-layer depression.

This squall may become particularly disruptive, when cold air at the upper layers of the atmosphere acts with warm moist air coming from the Mediterranean.

Easterly and northeasterly winds could bring extra moisture to the coast of Spain, increasing the potential for a prolonged and locally intense rainfall.

Some meteorologists have spoken of this possible system as a retrograde DANA, because it might be expected to go from east to west, rather than in the usual west-east direction.

Nevertheless, the course and evolution of the storm system is still uncertain, making it difficult to predict where the greatest precipitation will be. The change in the weather will also end the unusually warm weather, which Spain has been enjoying during this week.

A fall in temperature is expected from Saturday, initially over northern and northwest Spain, before spreading more widely on Sunday.

Valencia’s maximum temperature for the day may fall from about 26° on Saturday to 20° on Sunday. The temperatures in Barcelona may fall from about 24° to 20°.

For residents and holidaymakers who have enjoyed the recent warm weather, the weekend is set to feel considerably more autumnal.

Spain’s Civil Protection authorities urge caution ahead of weekend storms

Spain’s Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Emergencies has also issued a warning following the latest forecasts.

In a notice published on October 14, the Ministry of the Interior warned of the risk of intense rains in the Balearic Islands and Mediterranean coastal areas.

Authorities insisted that uncertainty over the weather system made it especially important to follow the latest forecasts and official warnings.

Residents in flood-prone regions are advised to take additional precautions, especially when travelling near rivers, ravines, and normally dry watercourses which may become inundated during heavy rainfall.

Motorists should avoid flooded roads, even if the water appears to be shallow, as its depth and force are not easy to judge.

People planning to go outside, to go to the coast or on a weekend trip are also recommended to check the weather conditions in advance.

In the Valencian Community, the emergency services have already warned local authorities to take all preventive measures in view of the expected rainfall. It is said that several events held in the Gandia area have been postponed as a precaution.

Although Saturday is expected to be the first day of the unsettled weather, Sunday and Monday may bring heavy rain to parts of the Mediterranean coast and the Balearic Islands.

Forecasts remain subject to change, and the areas experiencing the heaviest rainfall may shift as the weather system develops. Residents and visitors are advised to check the latest warnings on AEMET‘s official website and follow instructions from local emergency services.