A FIERCE autumn storm system has brought Spain’s long summer to an abrupt end, triggering severe weather alerts across the Mediterranean coast.
While a brief respite is expected on Wednesday, meteorologists warn that the wet weather is set to linger.
Forecast models from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) indicate above-average rainfall could persist across the country for the next three weeks.
Catalunya is bracing for the most dangerous conditions on Tuesday, with forecasters warning of torrential downpours capable of dumping up to 150mm of rain.
Regional weather agency Meteocat has raised its warning to a high level four out of six for the Barcelones area, where more than 40mm call fall in just 30 minutes.
Spain’s state meteorological agency, AEMET, has also activated orange warnings across coastal and pre-coastal areas of Catalunya for Tuesday.
The agency warned that the storm cells could bring large hail, hurricane-force winds capable of felling trees, and even isolated tornados or waterspouts along the coast.
The downpours have already begun in the north-east, with Costa Brava weather stations recording 47mm in Cadiretes and 25mm in Cala Canyelles on Monday morning.
Further south, the Valencian Community is on high alert as the front sweeps in overnight.
AEMET has issued orange alerts from midnight on Tuesday for the interior north of Valencia and interior south of Castellon, covering areas inland from the Costa Blanca.
Up to 40mm could fall in an hour, reaching 80mm in two to three hours, with authorities warning of sudden flash floods and rapidly swelling riverbeds.
In Andalucia, yellow warnings are in place across Malaga province on Monday afternoon and evening for up to 15mm in an hour.
The warnings cover the Costa del Sol, Ronda, Antequera, the Guadalhorce valley, and the Axarquia, alongside alerts for the Cadiz and Granada coasts.
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