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Date Published: 07/03/2025

A week of rain and deadly storms in Spain, with more to come

There has been widespread flooding and disruption due to the torrential rainfall in parts of Spain, especially the underprepared south

This week has brought severe storms across Spain, leading to extensive flooding, infrastructure damage and significant disruptions. The combination of cold northern air colliding with moisture-laden warm air has resulted in relentless rainfall, particularly affecting the Mediterranean regions and Andalucía. Some areas have received over 100mm of rain in just 12 hours, and further adverse weather is anticipated.

Impact on Murcia: Fatalities and infrastructure failures

The southeastern Spanish Region of Murcia has been severely affected by the recent storms, with tragic consequences. A 50-year-old farmer lost his life after being swept away by floodwaters. The heavy rainfall has caused substantial damage to infrastructure, with roads and other infrastructure in Lorca suffering an estimated €15,000,000 in destruction. Beaches have also been inundated with debris, exacerbating existing environmental concerns.

Weather gauges in the northern Murcia town of Cehegín recorded over 400 litres per square metre in the first six days of March. Meanwhile, Bullas, Mula, Moratalla and Caravaca de la Cruz each exceeded 300 litres in less than a week. Bullas has recorded 356 litres so far this month, surpassing historical monthly records by nearly 100 litres, according to the weather analysis group FrostSE.

Heavy rains unleashed floods in parts of Murcia, southern #Spain

VC: jjpadilla85#Flood #Europe #Murcia #España #Flashflood #Rain #Inundación #Lluvia #Climate #Weather #Viral pic.twitter.com/PuqjH9snwe
— Earth42morrow (@Earth42morrow) March 3, 2025

Caravaca, Moratalla, Lorca and Águilas have also experienced unprecedented rainfall. In the latter two municipalities, the volume of rain in the past six days has exceeded the total recorded throughout the entire year of 2024.

The flooding has posed a particular threat to the already fragile Mar Menor ecosystem. The overflowing Albujón rambla, notorious for carrying sediment and pollutants into the lagoon, has raised serious ecological concerns. Ramón Pagán of the Pacto por el Mar Menor group has warned that the current conditions resemble previous storms that caused lasting environmental damage in 2016, 2019 and 2021.

While the storms have caused destruction, some sectors have found benefits. Farmers in Murcia, particularly those growing cereals, have welcomed the rain after prolonged dry conditions. ASAJA Murcia’s general secretary, Alfonso Gálvez, described the rainfall as a “salvation” for agricultural production, although the intensity of the downpour has led to localised crop damage.

Indeed, the damage to the agricultural sector in the Region of Murcia alone is estimated to exceed €10 million, according to the Coordinator of Organisations of Agricultural Workers and Farmers (COAG). The full economic effects of the flooding will only become known in the coming weeks and months.

In response to hazardous conditions, schools and social service centres in several municipalities across Murcia have remained closed this Thursday and Friday, though educational institutions with the capability to continue online learning were permitted to do so.

Dozens of roads have remained closed due to damage or flooding for up to 48 hours. Emergency response teams have been actively addressing the crisis, with 80 personnel and 66 machines deployed to manage the situation. However, the surge in emergency calls briefly overwhelmed the 112 Región de Murcia coordination system, which received over 526 weather-related calls within 48 hours.

Extreme weather conditions like these, including both high temperatures and heavy rainfall, are becoming increasingly frequent. However, existing infrastructure in Murcia, such as roads, buildings and urban areas, remains ill-equipped to manage these challenges. This issue is not new; flood control projects for the Segura basin have been stalled for over two decades due to bureaucratic obstacles, funding constraints and political inertia.

The Confederación Hidrográfica del Segura (CHS) has proposed significant measures, including €130 million in EU-funded flood prevention projects. However, until these plans are implemented, Murcia remains highly vulnerable to flooding.

Severe weather across Spain: Airport closures and storm rescues

Beyond Murcia, extreme weather conditions have caused disruptions across Spain. Gran Canaria Airport was forced to close due to severe flooding on its runways. In the town of Telde, flash floods swept away vehicles, submerging roads and causing extensive property damage. Local authorities urged residents to remain indoors as emergency services worked to restore normalcy.

Vehicles swept away as heavy rains trigger floods in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands #Spain #Flood #Europe #GranCanaria #Island #España #Flashflood #Rain #Inundación #Lluvia #Climate #Weather #Viral pic.twitter.com/XNDLL4E4Pz
— Earth42morrow (@Earth42morrow) March 4, 2025

The Valencian Community and Alicante, which were so battered by the highly destructive DANA storm of October 2024, have also been heavily impacted this week. Over 100mm of rainfall was recorded within 12 hours, prompting an orange weather alert. Schools were closed, and residents were advised to avoid ravines due to the risk of flash flooding. Tragically, a 55-year-old fisherman in Torrevieja lost his life due to the hazardous conditions.

In Andalucía, emergency services were inundated with calls concerning flooded roads, fallen trees and stranded vehicles. Jerez de la Frontera and Málaga were among the most severely affected areas. On the AP-4 motorway, firefighters rescued 40 individuals from 20 vehicles trapped by the overflowing Arroyo Salado river.

Heavy rains turned roads into gushing rivers in Villaricos, Cuevas del Almanzora #Spain #Flood #Europe #Villaricos #España #Flashflood #Rain #Inundación #Lluvia #Climate #Weather #Viral pic.twitter.com/zbdFQGIvAL
— Earth42morrow (@Earth42morrow) March 2, 2025

Amid the chaos caused by extreme weather, Spanish police have issued warnings about a new SMS-based scam. Fraudulent text messages are being sent to individuals, falsely claiming to provide official weather alerts regarding heavy rainfall. These messages contain links that lead to phishing websites designed to steal personal data. Authorities are advising recipients not to click on any links and to report suspicious messages immediately.

Further adverse weather expected from Storm Jana

Spain is now bracing for the arrival of Storm Jana, expected to bring additional rainfall, strong winds and a drop in temperatures over the coming days. According to the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet), this system will deepen rapidly, potentially forming secondary low-pressure zones that could intensify precipitation.

For Friday March 7, hailstorms and persistent downpours are likely, particularly in western Andalucía and maximum temperatures are expected to decrease across western Spain. On Saturday 8, the storm will spread to bring widespread thunderstorms and hail across much of the country. Night-time temperatures are set to drop, too, particularly along the Atlantic coast. For Sunday 9, the rainfall is expected to persist and even continue into the beginning of next week.

Spain weather forecast, Sunday March 9

Spain remains on high alert as the country continues to endure severe weather conditions, with authorities urging residents to exercise caution and stay informed through official meteorological updates.

Image 1: Servicio de Emergencias y Protección Civil de Lorca

Image 2: Policía Local de Lorca

Image 3: MC Cartagena

Image 4: Aemet

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