Communities in south-east Spain are facing serious flooding as heavy, persistent rainfall continues to drench the region. Murcia has begun evacuating residents, while several flights have been cancelled due to unsafe weather conditions.
The Spanish meteorological agency AEMET has been tracking Storm Alice, which is causing the widespread downpours over the western Mediterranean.
Rainfall in some areas could reach 250–300 mm over the next few days, raising concerns about flash floods and landslides. The storm is associated with a DANA, or Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos, which describes a pocket of cold air at high altitudes that becomes detached from the main jet stream.
A DANA forms when the normally continuous jet stream breaks, allowing isolated cold air masses to stall above the warm waters of the Mediterranean.
This combination of cold air above and warm sea below creates extremely unstable conditions, triggering heavy thunderstorms
. In coastal zones with strong winds blowing from the sea, a month’s worth of rainfall can fall within a day or two. Mountainous and river valley areas are particularly at risk of sudden floods and mudslides as water rushes down slopes.
The coastal area near Cabo de la Nao, stretching from Valencia to Alicante, along with nearby inland locations, is expected to bear the brunt of the storm.
Rainfall in these regions could exceed 60 mm within an hour, creating dangerous flash floods. Residents and tourists are advised to avoid low-lying areas, follow safety advisories, and remain alert as the storm continues.
Spain has seen devastating DANA events in the past. In October 2024, a particularly strong DANA caused catastrophic flooding in Valencia, leaving over 200 people dead and causing massive destruction.
Such extreme weather is unusual, occurring once or twice per decade, with the most severe cases roughly every 20 years.
Authorities continue to monitor Storm Alice closely and urge people to remain vigilant as the situation develops over the coming days.