Spain is preparing for flooding after meteorologists issued warnings of 'significant danger', with torrential rain expected to batter popular holiday destinations Benidorm, Ibiza, and Magaluf.
Large portions of Spain's south-east and the Balearic Islands face orange weather alerts following flash floods that devastated Catalonia and Valencia on Wednesday (September 16). A search and rescue mission is ongoing to locate a woman who was allegedly swept away in Olivella, a town 25 miles west of Barcelona, yesterday.
Record rainfall and official warnings
Spain's national weather service, AEMET, said: "Rarely have we seen such large rainfall accumulations in 30 minutes as the one we've had today in Valencia and nearby areas."
The organisation has subsequently issued yellow and orange alerts for precipitation and potential flooding for Thursday and portions of Friday. There is 'significant danger' for popular British expat communities in southern Alicante, which includes Benidorm, and the Balearic Islands, where tourists flock to Ibiza, Magaluf, and Palma.
Impact on transport and sport
Approximately four inches of rainfall (120mm) was measured within one hour in Alicante, according to AEMET data. Early yesterday morning, the body posted on X: "Wednesday and Thursday: very heavy showers and storms in the eastern mainland and Balearic Islands."
"The intensity and persistence of the rains may cause local flooding and flash floods. Significant danger in Catalonia, south of Aragon, Valencian Community, and Balearic Islands. Exercise great caution!"
On Wednesday, metro stations in Barcelona were shut down, and all metro lines in Valencia were halted. Valencia, the site of a devastating flood in October 2024 that claimed 229 lives, saw a football match between Levante and Athletic Bilbao called off due to floodwater infiltrating the players' tunnel.
Emergency response and context
Approximately 478 weather-related incidents were reported to emergency services in the Valencia region this week, as per the Daily Mail.
These floods follow Spain's hottest summer on record, with temperatures soaring to 45.7°C in Andalusia. The nation's average temperature was 24.5°C, and it experienced 61 heatwave days over three months.
