Red alert as Spain hit by heavy rain and flooding

Image source, EPAImage caption, A police car blocks the traffic on road closed by flooding in Cartagena, Murcia, SpainByTomasz SchafernakerLead Weather PresenterSeveral regions in south-east Spain are currently under red weather warnings with torrential and slow moving rain continuing across the next few days.Flights have been cancelled and the city of Murcia has already seen evacuations.The severe weather is being driven by Storm Alice, named by the Spanish weather agency AEMET, which has been closely monitoring its development over the western Mediterranean in recent days.Over the next few days as much as 250–300 mm of rain is possible in some locations.The system is linked to a phenomenon known as a "DANA" – a Spanish meteorological term meaning Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos ("Isolated Depression in High Levels").Media caption, Storm Alice forecastAt times, the jet stream meanders like a snaking river, eventually breaking up and allowing pockets of cold air high in the atmosphere to detach from northern latitudes. These circular or drop-shaped cold air masses often become slow-moving or stationary. As they rotate over the warm Mediterranean Sea, they create a highly unstable atmosphere.This fuels intense thunderstorms and torrential downpours. In areas exposed to strong onshore winds, months worth of rain can fall in just a day or two, leading to dangerous flooding.Inland and mountainous regions may also experience flash floods and mudslides as rain funnels down valleys and rivers.Image caption, Satellite image showing storm clouds gathering over south-east Spain during Friday afternoon due to unstable air.The worst-hit areas are expected to be around Cabo de la Nao on the coast between Valencia and Alicante, and nearby inland areas. Rainfall here could exceed 60 mm in an hour, leading to dangerous flash flooding. Over the next few days as much as 250–300 mm of rain is possible in some locations.Residents and visitors are being urged to stay alert, avoid flood-prone areas, and follow local warnings closely.In October 2024, Valencia was hit by another much more powerful DANA leading to catastrophic flooding and and widespread destruction. It was one of the most intense flood events in the region in a century. Over 200 people died.Significant DANA events typically happen only once or twice per decade, with the most extreme cases occurring roughly every 20 years.Click here to play 'Cooler than me?'