In 2025, Spain will launch an unusual initiative: particularly powerful ‘danas’ will now receive their own names. The State Meteorological Agency made this decision to make information about weather threats clearer for everyone. Until now, ‘danas’ that caused heavy rains and even tragedies remained unnamed, unlike hurricanes and classic storms.
Previously in Europe, weather phenomena were named primarily based on wind strength, not the amount of precipitation. As a result, even destructive autumn downpours that claimed hundreds of lives last year did not receive a specific name. Now, if a particularly dangerous high-altitude depression forms over Spain, it will be named — the first on the list is ‘Alicia’.
The list of names has been coordinated between the meteorological services of Spain, Portugal, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Andorra. The new system will only apply to those ‘danas’ that could cause serious consequences — for example, if an orange or red level weather alert is issued. This will help distinguish truly dangerous events from routine ones, without causing unnecessary panic.
DANA is an abbreviation for ‘Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos’, meaning an isolated depression at high altitudes. These systems are difficult to predict: they form at heights of over five kilometers and can suddenly bring heavy rain, snow, or thunderstorms. Not every ‘dana’ leads to disaster, but when it does, the consequences can be severe.
Assigning names will not only help provide timely information but also aid in the subsequent analysis of weather events. Authorities will be able to respond more quickly, while the public will better understand what they are dealing with. In addition, this will reduce confusion: previously, the term “dana” was often mistakenly perceived as a synonym for disaster, although this is not always the case.
Interestingly, the term “dana” emerged as a replacement for the outdated “gota fría” (“cold drop”), which was also associated exclusively with disasters. However, the new term quickly became a household name for any weather emergency. Now, the situation may change: only the most dangerous danas will be given names.
Since 2017, Spain has participated in a European program for naming severe storms. The list includes twenty names, alternating by gender. This new practice should make forecasts more accurate and understandable, and preparations for bad weather more effective.
