DANA turns streets into raging torrents

Severe flooding has claimed the lives of over 50 people so far, across parts of southern and eastern Spain.

The storm, known as a DANA has led to catastrophic flooding across Spain. DANA is a Spanish acronym for Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos, translated as an isolated depression at high altitudes.

It is a deep low consisting of a pocket of cold air in the upper atmosphere, also known as a cold drop or cut-off low, separated from the main stream, that then sweeps over a warmer air mass - in this case the warm Mediterranean.

This comes from the Spanish term "La gota fría" which translates to "the cold drop". It is a well-known phrase across Spain, particularly the coastal regions where this phenomenon is common.

The DANA storm has left parts of Spain reeling from torrential rain and flooding. A months worth of rain fell within a single day, on Tuesday 29th October.

The storm has impacted millions, with the death toll up to 51 so far. In Valencia, one of the worst affected areas, over 200 mm of rain has fallen since Sunday 28th October.

In Chiva, rainfall has exceeded 430 mm, with 340 mm falling in just four hours. In Cullera, the Júcar River overflowed causing significant flooding.

Many residents were also stranded overnight, awaiting rescue. Several spent the night on roofs of cars and buildings, while dozens were trapped in the Bonaire shopping centre in Aldaia.