Weather alerts in place: Severe floods in Spain after Dana event

Torrential rainfall and thunderstorms across the Iberian Peninsula resulted in severe flooding in Spain this weekend.

Coastal areas in the southwest saw the worst of the conditions, although widespread disruption was reported, including in capital Madrid, and also in the northeast where 215 litres per square metre of rainfall was recorded within 24 hours in Alcanar.

The severe conditions were the result of a slow-moving storm system known as depresión aislada en niveles altos (Dana). These are isolated depressions at high altitude which deliver unpredictable showers containing abundant amounts of rainfall.

Due to the conditions, authorities in Madrid asked all residents to remain at home on Sunday and major sporting events, including a planned La Liga meeting involving Atlético Madrid, were postponed.

Train lines also saw cancellations, while many roads were blocked due to flooding and mudslides.

It is not yet clear whether any fatalities have been recorded due to the conditions, Madrid’s fire service saw 190 calls on Sunday alone for flooding issues. Emergency services were equally busy elsewhere, with a crew dispatched to free a man trapped by flood water in his vehicle in the Castelló province.

Spain’s meteorological service utilise a three-tiered emergency system. On Sunday, Cadiz, Madrid, and Toledo were all covered by a red alert, the highest possible.

As of Monday, much of central and north-central Spain remain under yellow alerts, the second-most severe, with continued thunderstorm development expected into the evening.

The Dana arrives after months of drought-inducing weather patterns, leaving the ground dry and unable to fully absorb rainwater to its potential.

The situation on Sunday can be seen in the WeatherRadar video above, with storms developing throughout the day, across the country.

Watch how the situation unfolds on the WeatherRadar, we will continue to bring updates on further disruption.