A DANA will bring intense storms, hail, and possible wind bursts to much of northern and eastern Spain. Authorities have issued orange and yellow alerts. The most unstable conditions are expected on Saturday.
Spain faces a weekend of heightened weather alerts as a DANA (isolated high-level depression) moves over the peninsula, triggering severe storms, large hail, and the risk of sudden wind bursts across northern and eastern regions. Meteorological services have activated orange and yellow warnings for multiple provinces, with the most critical conditions forecast for Saturday.
On Thursday, intense storms already hit parts of the country, with Tuixent (Lleida) recording 45.6 mm of rain and Fonfría (Teruel) experiencing wind gusts up to 98 km/h. The arrival of a new Atlantic trough is now deepening instability, especially in the upper atmosphere, setting the stage for further severe weather.
Friday brings the first wave of impact, with rain expected in northern Galicia and Asturias. As the day progresses, convective clouds will develop, leading to showers and thunderstorms across much of the northern and eastern peninsula, including central areas. Regions such as Castilla y León, La Rioja, Navarra, Aragón, Catalonia, Castilla-La Mancha, Madrid, the Valencian Community, Murcia, and eastern Andalucía are all at risk. The most intense storms are likely in the Pyrenees, Teruel, inland Castellón, and northern Castilla y León, where orange alerts are in place for hourly rainfall exceeding 30-40 mm. Large hail and wind bursts remain possible in several of these areas.
Saturday is expected to be the most unstable day, as the DANA settles over central Spain. Light morning rain is forecast for the Cantabrian coast, the Pyrenees, and isolated central and southeastern zones. By midday, showers and storms will spread through Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, La Rioja, Navarra, Castilla y León, Madrid, Castilla-La Mancha, Aragón, Catalonia, the Valencian Community, Murcia, and eastern Andalucía. Even Extremadura and western Andalucía may see isolated storms, though these will be weaker and less frequent. Most communities, except Asturias, Galicia, and the Canary Islands, are under yellow alerts, with orange warnings active in León, La Rioja, Soria, Teruel, Castellón, Lleida, Barcelona, and Tarragona. Accumulations could again surpass 30-40 mm in an hour, and the threat of wind bursts persists in Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, inland Catalonia, the Valencian Community, and Murcia.
By Sunday, the DANA is forecast to shift southwest, positioning itself between the Gulf of Cádiz and the Canary Islands. As a result, rainfall will decrease across the peninsula, though showers may still occur in the northern and central mountain systems, including the Cantabrian range, the Pyrenees, the Iberian and Central systems, and, to a lesser extent, the northern and southern plateaus and southeastern sierras. The Canary Islands, particularly the western islands, could also see showers.
Recent severe weather in Spain has already caused significant disruption, as seen when violent storms brought record winds and flooding to southern Valencia, with emergency services responding to over 160 incidents in Alicante province. For more on the impact of previous storm events, see this report on recent storms in Alcoi and Villena.
Spain's weather patterns are increasingly marked by sudden, intense events such as DANA episodes, which can lead to flash flooding, hail damage, and transport disruption. The Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) regularly issues color-coded alerts to inform the public of risks. Residents in affected areas are advised to monitor updates and take precautions, especially in regions with active orange warnings. DANA systems are a recurring feature in Spain's climate, particularly in spring and autumn, and can rapidly intensify local weather conditions. The combination of cold upper air and warm surface temperatures often leads to the formation of powerful convective storms, making timely warnings and preparedness essential for minimizing impact.
