Streets turn into rivers as DANA storm Adam dumps extreme rain on Almeria’s plastic sea of farms

One of the driest places in Spain and Europe was transformed into a scene of chaos on Saturday as more than 116 litres of rain fell per square metre in El Ejido, Almeria, during the passage of DANA Adam.

Weather stations in the town recorded 116.4 mm at El Ejido-Norte, with some locations seeing more than 90 mm in a single hour. AEMET had raised a red (extreme) alert for the Poniente and Almeria capital area for the afternoon, warning of possible 60 mm in one hour.

¿Sabéis dónde ha llovido más hoy en nuestro país? Pues sí, en una de las zonas más secas de #España y #Europa. Esta tarde (17/10/2026), dantesca situación en #ElEjido (#Almería) tras registrarse 116 litros por metro cuadrado. Caos total y absoluto. Vídeo: @AlmeriaPostureo. https://t.co/00sYyPMgra

— MeteOrihuela (@MeteOrihuela) October 17, 2026

116 litres in hours: flash floods hit Europe’s driest greenhouse heartland

The intensity turned streets into rivers. More than 100 incidents were reported to the 112 emergency service, mainly involving vehicles trapped in floodwater, flooded basements and ground floors, and debris and containers swept along by the force of the water. Mayor Julia Ibáñez activated the local emergency plan at 2.30pm and ordered the suspension of all organised sporting, cultural and leisure activities. Authorities reported no personal injuries.

The contrast is stark. El Ejido sits in a hot semi-arid zone that regularly ranks among the driest locations in Spain and Europe, with annual rainfall often well below 250 mm. It is also the centre of Europe’s largest concentration of plastic greenhouses, the famous “mar de plástico” that supplies much of the continent’s winter vegetables.

Nos llegan algunos vídeos de la zona de El Ejido donde las precipitaciones han superado el umbral de aviso rojo 🛑

También lloviendo con intensidad en zonas de Cartagena y Fuente Álamo

https://t.co/WOb47CPNDT https://t.co/tSrvp12PMo

— AMETSE (@MeteoSE) October 17, 2026

Farmers’ organisation COAG Almeria said the flash flooding had affected around 1,000 hectares of greenhouses across Adra, Balanegra and El Ejido. In Adra, between 10 and 15 structures collapsed under the weight of water. Many newly planted crops now face the risk of root rot where floodwater ran through the fields like rivers. Rural tracks and agricultural roads were left impassable.

Similar flash-flood scenes were reported elsewhere in the province. Huercal de Almeria saw streets completely submerged, while Viator was forced to close a bridge. In neighbouring Murcia, Cartagena also recorded heavy downpours, with flooded streets and containers carried by the water.

More than 100 incidents and emergency plans activated

The Andalucian government raised its flood emergency plan to operational level 1 and sent ES-Alert messages to phones in around 40 zones in the Poniente and Almeria capital area, advising people to avoid unnecessary travel and stay clear of ramblas and flooded zones.

🇪🇸 إسبانيا | ألميريا

🎥 MeteoFuente

#Spain | #Almeria https://t.co/QOJVP41Lo8

— طقس_العالم ⚡️ (@Arab_Storms) October 17, 2026

While the heaviest rain of Saturday fell in the normally arid Poniente, AEMET has now shifted the highest-level red alerts northward. Southern Valencia and northern Alicante face the greatest risk on Sunday and Monday, with the possibility of 200 mm in 12 hours and locally 300 mm in 24 hours around the Cabo de la Nao area.

Those in flood-prone zones are advised to stay away from ramblas and low-lying roads, check the latest AEMET warnings, and call 112 in an emergency.