MALAGA was drenched in torrential rain that caused chaos, flooding homes and wreaking structural damage.
The eastern Malaga neighbourhood of El Palo was hit by heavy rainfall, with around 120mm in just one hour during Storm Adam.
Episodes of torrential rain like the one that flooded parts of Malaga are becoming more frequent and intense, experts have warned.
The downpour flooded streets, homes and garages, leaving residents and businesses to deal with the damage.
But while some parts of the city were hit by severe rainfall, others – just a few kilometres away, had much less rain.
Jesús Riesco, director of the Malaga Meteorological Centre, explained to local newspaper Malaga Hoy that this is typical of localised storms, where huge amounts of rain pour over a small area without affecting nearby neighbourhoods to the same extent.
However, experts warn that climate change is making these episodes more concerning.
Warmer sea temperatures and a warmer atmosphere mean more moisture can build up in the air, increasing the potential for intense rainfall.
Storm Adam first hit the eastern part of Malaga before moving towards the Axarquia region and eventually out to sea. The storm also brought intense electrical activity and heavy downpours.
Other areas of the province were affected, including Pedregalejo, where flooding damaged businesses along the beachfront and forced some beach bars to close while staff cleared away mud and water.
The episode has once again raised concerns about the impact of increasingly intense rainfall on Malaga, particularly in areas where large amounts of water can fall in a short period of time.
Although the weather is expected to become more stable after the storm, experts warn that intense rainfall episodes remain a growing concern as the climate continues to warm.
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