Intense, slow-moving thunderstorms brought torrential rain, strong winds and large hail to eastern Spain, causing severe flooding in Barcelona and Valencia and killing at least one person.
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Key facts
- At least one person died as stormy weather flooded Barcelona and Valencia.
- Storms first struck the Castilla-La Mancha region on Wednesday afternoon before moving to the east coast.
- Weather stations west of Barcelona recorded more than 100mm of rain in a few hours, with 70mm locally in just 30 minutes.
- Cars and roads were submerged and flights were cancelled across the region.
Intense and slow-moving thunderstorms broke out on Wednesday afternoon across parts of eastern Spain, bringing severe flooding and killing at least one person, according to the Guardian.
The storms first developed over the Castilla-La Mancha region during the afternoon before passing over Spain’s east coast. Once there, they became very slow-moving and continued overnight, prolonging the impact on affected areas.
Torrential rainfall, strong winds and large hail were reported in Valencia and Barcelona, causing widespread flooding in both cities. The stationary nature of the storms allowed rain totals to build quickly.
Weather stations west of Barcelona recorded some of the highest totals, with more than 100mm (4in) of rain falling in the space of a few hours. Locally, 70mm fell in just 30 minutes in the early hours of Thursday morning.
The heavy rain overwhelmed roads and drainage. Cars and roads were submerged, and flights were cancelled across the region as the flooding took hold.
The Guardian reported the Spanish storms alongside a warning that Japan is bracing for a typhoon, underscoring a period of hazardous weather across multiple parts of the world.
Why it matters
Slow-moving thunderstorms can dump large amounts of rain in a short time, turning streets into hazards and disrupting travel for thousands. The death and flooding in eastern Spain highlight the danger such intense, stationary storms pose to densely populated cities.
Frequently asked questions
Where did the storms hit hardest in Spain?
The storms caused severe flooding in Barcelona and Valencia, with weather stations west of Barcelona recording the highest rainfall totals of more than 100mm in a few hours.
How much rain fell?
Weather stations west of Barcelona recorded more than 100mm (4in) of rain in a few hours, and locally 70mm fell in just 30 minutes in the early hours of Thursday morning.
How did the storms affect travel?
Cars and roads were submerged and flights were cancelled across the region due to the flooding.
Timeline
- Weather tracker: Thunderstorms hit Spain as Japan braces for typhoon
The Guardian World: At least one person dead as stormy weather causes severe flooding in Barcelona and Valencia Intense and slow-moving thunderstorms broke out on Wednesday afternoon across parts of eastern Spain, bringing some severe flooding and killing at least one person . Storms first struck ov