Parts of eastern Spain could receive more than 300 litres per square metre in 24 hours. Flooding has already prompted more than 100 emergency calls in Almería’s Poniente area and disrupted rail services in Catalonia.
València has suspended outdoor activities. Parks and gardens are closed, as are cemeteries and tunnels. The city has also cancelled a concert planned at the Palau de la Música for the 700th anniversary of Corpus. Markets are closed too.
AEMET warns that rainfall could exceed 300 litres per square metre in 24 hours in Valencia and northern Alicante. The Balearic Islands are also at risk. The agency issued its red alert on 17 October for Sunday 18 October and Monday 19 October. Some areas could receive more than 200 litres per square metre in 12 hours, with rainfall rates reaching 60 litres in one hour. AEMET called the danger extraordinary and warned of very serious or catastrophic impacts for people and property in exposed areas.
The State Meteorological Agency has issued a red warning for Valencia and Alicante, indicating extreme danger. Orange alerts are in force in Andalucía and Baleares. Castilla-La Mancha and Cataluña are also under orange alerts, as is Murcia. Ceuta and Melilla have yellow alerts.
AEMET describes storm Adam as the first high-impact DANA of the 2026 to 2027 season. It formed after a cold air mass high in the atmosphere broke away from the main flow over the north of the Iberian Peninsula. The resulting isolated cyclone interacted with low-pressure areas in the southwest, strengthening rainfall across the Mediterranean and Andalucía.
On 17 October, the Generalitat Valenciana’s Emergency Coordination Centre sent two Es-Alert messages to residents in areas facing extreme rain and flooding. One covered the northern coast of Alicante and southern coastal Valencia, where the red alert applied. The other went to parts of Valencia under an orange warning.
Residents were told to avoid non-essential journeys and stay out of flood-prone areas. They were warned to keep away from riverbeds and ravines. The coast was also off limits. People in flood-risk areas were advised to move to higher ground or upper floors. Regional president Juanfran Pérez Llorca called for «prudencia y responsabilidad». He urged residents to follow emergency services’ instructions and check official channels for updates.
Local Police warned people in tents in València’s city hall square that rain or wind could damage the structures and put them, along with passers-by, at risk. Police responses to public events also featured in a separate Pamplona report, which concerned a different incident.
Flooding on Saturday had already disrupted daily life. El Ejido, in Almería, recorded more than 60 litres per square metre in an hour, prompting the suspension of municipal activities. Across the Poniente area, 112 Andalucía received more than 100 reports. They involved stranded vehicles and overflowing ramblas. Water also entered shops or ground-floor premises.
Andalucía’s authorities raised the flood emergency plan to phase of emergency, operational situation 1. They sent an Es-Alert telling residents to avoid travel and stay clear of flooded areas. The alert also advised people to keep away from riverbeds and remain near higher ground.
In Cataluña, Protección Civil sent alerts warning of heavy rain in Barcelona’s coastal districts, including Barcelonès and Baix Llobregat. Earlier messages covered La Selva and Maresme. Vallès Oriental was included as well.
Train services on the R2 Sur have been suspended since 22:00. Regional trains heading south are being diverted via Vilafranca and Barcelona. Disruptions will continue until weather conditions improve and checks confirm the infrastructure is safe to use.
Sunday’s forecast calls for significant showers and thunderstorms in Cataluña and the southeast during the early hours. Intense rain is then expected in Andalucía and Murcia. Ceuta and Melilla are also in the forecast. Very strong wind gusts are expected in the Balearic Islands and Cataluña. AEMET has activated alerts in Galicia and the Valencian region as well.
Maximum temperatures are expected to fall by more than six degrees across the eastern half of the mainland. Minimum temperatures will drop in the central mountains.
On Monday morning, locally torrential and persistent rain is expected around Cabo de la Nao and along the coasts of Murcia and Almería. The Pitiusas are also in the forecast. Rain may spread across the rest of the Balearic Islands, especially Mallorca, where totals could reach 50 millimetres in one hour. Persistent downpours and very strong gusts remain possible.
