A new weather system, identified as "Dana", threatens eastern and southern Spain with significant rainfall, raising concerns as communities still recover from recent flooding disasters.
**Spain Faces New Weather System as Flood Recovery Continues**
**Spain Faces New Weather System as Flood Recovery Continues**
Spain’s eastern regions prepare for potential torrential rain, reminding citizens of recent devastating floods.
As eastern Spain begins to recover from the devastating flash floods at the end of October, a new weather front is expected to hit the Mediterranean coast, bringing with it warnings of torrential rain and lower temperatures. Many areas are under alert from the meteorological agency Aemet, particularly in the Valencia, Catalonia, and Andalusia regions, as well as the Balearic Islands, where an orange alert has been issued until Thursday.
Meteorologists are predicting storms that could be "very strong to torrential," and with this increased weather activity comes the concern of further natural disasters. The orange alert level indicates a significant risk to normal activities and the potential for serious weather-related issues.
The region of Valencia, recently affected by severe flooding, is taking precautionary measures by suspending classes and sports activities in several towns, alongside efforts to fortify vulnerable areas with sandbags. Despite comparisons to the preceding severe weather that led to tragic loss of life and extensive property damage, experts suggest that this new "Dana" system may not be as catastrophic.
In the recent calamity, there were 222 confirmed fatalities, with 23 individuals still reported missing. Dana weather systems, typically caused by an area of low pressure becoming isolated from the jet stream, can stall over a region, yielding days of impressive rainfall. This pattern is exacerbated when colder atmospheric conditions clash with warmer Mediterranean air.
Parts of Andalusia have already experienced heavy rainfall, resulting in temporary road closures and the need for emergency rescues. Authorities have urged residents in at-risk areas to avoid dry ravines and waterways that may suddenly become dangerous.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia’s recent visit to the affected regions was marred by protests, as citizens expressed frustration over governmental response to the flooding disaster. Following prior frustration in Paiporta, where members of the royal family were jostled and mud was thrown in protest, calls for increased action regarding disaster response have grown louder, particularly against regional president Carlos Mazón.
Typically occurring ten to twenty times a year, Dana weather systems pose ongoing challenges, and while experts assure the current system is less severe than the previous one, it could still deliver nearly 180mm of rain in regions like Malaga and Granada—the equivalent of two months’ rainfall in just a few days. Additionally, snowfall in mountain areas and strong winds are anticipated as colder air advances across the region.
