At the beginning of the week, Spain is experiencing a sharp deterioration in weather conditions. Several regions are reporting heavy rain, large hail, and strong wind gusts. The Catalan government has issued an Es-Alert emergency warning for residents of two districts in the province of Tarragona, where the heaviest precipitation is expected.
The national meteorological agency has issued weather warnings for a number of provinces due to the advance of an Atlantic depression, which will affect both the mainland and the Balearic Islands. Forecasts indicate that the worst of the weather will hit on Tuesday, when a moisture-laden atmospheric front is expected to trigger the formation of powerful thunderstorm clouds. The combination of high humidity and instability in the upper layers of the atmosphere is creating conditions for downpours and large hail.
Special attention is being paid to the eastern regions and the Balearic Islands, where the heaviest precipitation is expected. In some areas, rainfall may exceed 30 liters per square meter in an hour, and in certain cases reach up to 60 liters. On the Balearic Islands, up to 140 liters of rain could fall within several hours, increasing the risk of flash flooding.
An orange alert is in effect in Catalonia, the Valencian Community, and the Balearic Islands due to the risk of heavy rain and hail. Castilla-La Mancha and Murcia are under a yellow alert for less intense, but still dangerous, storms. In Andalusia, the warning applies to coastal areas, where stronger sea waves are expected.
Authorities in Aragón have raised the civil protection readiness level after heavy rainfall in towns such as Binéfar. In total, 15 provinces will be under warning on Tuesday, five of them at a higher risk level. There is particular concern about possible flooding in cities and ravines, as well as threats to crops along the Mediterranean coast. Strong winds may also disrupt maritime transport in the Balearic Islands and along the southeastern coast.
Civil protection and emergency services recommend refraining from travel during periods of maximum risk, avoiding low-lying areas, and exercising caution on the roads. Past experience shows that even minor changes in the path of a weather front can shift the areas of greatest impact, so residents are advised to stay updated with meteorological forecasts.
The situation is expected to begin stabilizing by midweek. Heavy downpours may still occur on the Balearic Islands and some parts of the Mediterranean coast during the night and morning on Wednesday, but as the front shifts toward the central Mediterranean, the intensity of the rainfall will decrease. Nevertheless, experts note that accurately forecasting such events is difficult due to their high variability.
