Why has Spain had so much flooding in Malaga and Valencia?
Spain is still reeling from recent floods that killed over 200 people.
Residents in Malaga have been recovering from heavy flooding after a deluge of up to 180mm of rainfall hit the southern Spanish region in just 12 hours on Wednesday.
Video footage shared on social media showed water cascading through the streets as public transport was suspended in the metropolitan and several neighbourhoods were evacuated.
The swollen Benamargosa river swept dozens of cars away after bursting its banks as heavy rain caused havoc in southern and eastern Spain.
On Thursday, the Andalusian regional government said that 4,210 people remain outside of their homes in the areas closest to the river Guadalhorce to the west of the city.
All train services in Malaga province were halted, including the high speed train between Madrid and Malaga. Malaga's train station was also evacuated due to flooding, national rail infrastructure operator Adif said.
Watch: Spain floods wreak carnage in Malaga
On Thursday, parts of Spain were braced for even more flooding after orange alerts were issued for southern Granada and Valencia's coastal area, where between 40-120mm of rain were projected to fall. Winds of up to 74mph and high seas are predicted for Tarragona, Barcelona and Murcia.
Meteorologist Loic Spadafora, meteorology consultant and director of the media InfOccitanie shared footage of floodwaters coursing through the streets of Alcanar and Ulldecona on the south coast.
🔴 Les orages diluviens ont provoqué de nouvelles #inondations hier soir et la nuit dernière en #Espagne, notamment en #Catalogne. Voici des images des villes de #Ulldecona et #Alcanar (entre Tarragone et Valence). 📹 13 et 14//11/24. pic.twitter.com/gX9vQ0vrY3
— Loïc Spadafora (@loicspadafora) November 14, 2024
Why has Spain had so much flooding?
The latest flooding comes as parts of the country deal with the aftermath of recent storms that caused catastrophic flash floods as a result of an extreme weather phenomenon known as Dana.
More than 200 people were killed as a result of the floods last month, with at least 90 people reported missing.
Valencia was the hardest-hit region, with the vast majority of reported deaths from that area. Scores were also reported missing, authorities believe that figure could be higher.
Photos circulating on social media appear to show residents in Spain wrapping their cars in plastic and tying them to lampposts to try and secure them.
Estimates of the damage caused are in the billions. The Spanish Transport Ministry has already repaired over 140 miles of road and rail tracks – but the train line between Valencia and Madrid was demolished by the force of the floods.
Hundreds of thousands of home were left without electricity and fresh water, while residents saw homes and cars destroyed, sparking a surge in insurance claims.
More than €10.6bn (£8.8bn) was last week approved to help victims after flooding in Valencia, and Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez on Tuesday approved a further €3.76bn for the region.
While heavy rain in Spain is typical for the autumn, the recent storms have been particularly heavy, with red alerts put in place by Aemet – although on Thursday are now at orange and yellow.
Read more: Photos show damage caused by Valencia floods as at least 90 dead
The Poyo ravine – usually dry – had swelled to over three times the flow of Spain’s largest river, the Ebro, in the hours leading up to the devastation.
In areas like Valencia, the severity of rainfall is potentially greater due to large quantities of mud already on the ground as a result of the condition of the sewage system, according to Rosa Tauris, a spokesperson for it Aemet's emergency committee.
Some areas, particularly along the Mediterranean coast, also have steep terrain that can cause rainwater to quickly accumulate and flood low-lying areas. In addition, rivers that pass through urban areas may overflow during heavy rains, causing widespread flooding.
The rain in eastern Spain at this time of year is caused by a weather phenomenon called Dana.
What is a Dana storm?
A Dana storm (or cold drop) is a type of low-pressure weather system that forms in the Mediterranean region, particularly in autumn and winter.
It occurs when cold air from north becomes isolated and moves south into the warmer Mediterranean, rising quickly and forming heavy clouds.
Read more: What caused the deadly Spain floods and what does it mean for the UK?
The low pressure from the north is then blocked by the high pressure above the water, causing to slow down or come to a complete stop – creating storms that are unable to move anywhere. This means than rain falls in one area for a prolonged period, while thunder and strong winds also lash the region.
Dana storms can lead to flash flooding, especially in areas with steep terrain, poor drainage, or urban environments.
The name ‘Dana’, used by European meteorological agencies, stands for ‘Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos’ – which translates to ‘isolated depression in upper levels’.
Does this mean anything for the UK?
The Dana is a localised weather system specific to the Mediterranean, which is unlikely to have any direct effects on the UK.
But the floods are evidence of how climate change is making weather more unpredictable – and making extreme events more likely.
Dr Jess Neumann, associate professor of hydrology at the University of Reading, told Yahoo News UK: "What we're seeing with this changing climate, more chaotic weather.
"We have a warming atmosphere: we've seen about 1.1C of warming so far and what that means is the atmosphere is able to hold more moisture. So what we've seen in Spain is cooler air moving over the Mediterranean, pulling up this moisture into the atmosphere.
"It's making these big thunderclouds, which have deposited a huge amount of rain. Here in the UK, we obviously don't have the Mediterranean Sea, but what we do have, particularly during the summer, is intense thunderstorms that develop.
"Only a few weeks ago... we saw flash flooding across a reasonable chunk of the UK, and that was caused by unstable atmospheric conditions."
“Flash floods can affect anyone, anywhere. We take preparation for other hazards such as earthquakes and tsunamis very seriously with education, drills and emergency kits. It is time we afforded the same to flood risk preparedness.”