Violent storms lash Spain as Mediterranean braces for hazardous thunderstorms and extreme flooding

Severe storms battered parts of eastern and island Spain on Monday, bringing gale-force gusts of around 100 km/h, torrential rain and flash flooding that left roads submerged, trees toppled and boats damaged across Majorca and the Alicante and Tarragona provinces.

Meteorological agencies issued a string of warnings and emergency measures as the north-central Mediterranean remained under the threat of "hazardous" thunderstorms and "extreme" rainfall. Spain’s State Meteorological Agency, AEMET, placed much of Alicante under orange and yellow alerts for extreme rainfall and strong winds and issued a red alert for southern coastal and pre-coastal areas of Tarragona. Warnings were set to run from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., with forecasts of up to 90 millimetres of rain possible in a single hour in some locations, raising the risk of sudden river surges and flash floods.

Regional services reported extensive localised damage and a high volume of emergency calls. In Majorca, emergency services recorded about 50 incidents before 10 a.m., responding to flooded roads, overturned boats and destroyed terraces at restaurants and beach bars. The south of Majorca was the worst hit on the island; AEMET’s Balearic Islands delegate, María José Guerrero, reported more than 22 litres per square metre of rain in 10 minutes and 34 litres in an hour in some areas. Island authorities kept Majorca on orange alert, warning more than 140 litres per square metre could fall over three to four hours.

In Alicante, dramatic footage circulated showing palm trees snapping under strong gusts and streets inundated with fast-moving water. Catalonia’s meteorological service, Meteocat, raised its danger level to five out of six, forecasting up to 40 litres per square metre within 30 minutes and as much as 100 litres in 24 hours in affected areas. Catalan authorities activated INUNCAT, the region’s Special Flood Emergency Plan, and sent Es-Alert warnings to residents in Baix Ebre and Montsià urging people to avoid unnecessary travel and to keep clear of flood-prone areas.

The hardest-hit zones in Catalonia included the Tarragonès and Baix Camp areas, with alerts later extended into Baix Ebre and Montsià. Local reports described torrents carrying debris into normally frequented beaches and municipal workers and emergency services mobilising from early hours to clear streets and secure affected ports and marinas.

Palma de Mallorca activated its emergency plan, closed parks and gardens and logged widespread travel disruptions at the island’s airport. Aena, Spain’s airport operator, reported average flight delays of around one hour as operations were affected by the storm. In Andratx and the Camp de Mar area, authorities sealed marina zones after multiple boats were damaged and terraces were displaced by strong gusts.

Forecasters outside Spain also flagged severe conditions across the north-central Mediterranean. The forecaster Severe Weather Europe warned of "extremely high rainfall" in three zones and noted a risk of tornadoes along parts of Italy’s western coast. Spanish and regional agencies advised residents to follow official guidance, avoid nonessential journeys and stay away from waterways and low-lying areas.

Officials said the situation was being monitored continuously and that preventive measures were being coordinated. AEMET and local authorities urged caution but sought to reassure the public that emergency services and municipal teams were working to limit the storm’s impacts.

The storms follow a series of intense, localized weather events in Spain over the summer. In July, powerful storms struck parts of southeastern Spain, including the Murcia region, producing large hail, rapid flooding and evacuations in towns such as Caravaca de la Cruz and leaving streets and properties inundated.

As the Mediterranean remained unstable, authorities emphasised the importance of heeding alerts and avoiding flood-prone routes while monitoring updates from AEMET, Meteocat and local emergency services.