Second DANA storm impacting eastern Spain after historic October flooding

The advisory forecasts torrential rainfall for parts of Spain’s Mediterranean coast, the Balearic Islands, and Andalusia due to an incoming DANA (Isolated Depression at High Levels) storm.

This meteorological phenomenon, involving cold air at high altitudes interacting with warm, humid surface air, often results in significant rainfall and atmospheric instability in the Iberian Peninsula and the Mediterranean.

This current DANA storm, moving from France toward Spain, has already prompted AEMET’s warning for flash floods, coastal turbulence, and potential thunderstorms through mid-week.

The storm system is expected to intensify on November 13, bringing further heavy rainfall to Mediterranean areas. Rainfall accumulation may reach 150 mm (5.9 inches) in the Málaga region and along the northern Valencia coast. Additional regions, including the southern Sistema Central, could experience moderate rainfall up to 80 mm (3.1 inches) in 24 hours.

The storm system is projected to move southwest by November 14, posing an increased risk in western Andalusia, especially near the Straits of Gibraltar.

This movement could also bring sustained rainfall to the Valencia and Málaga coasts, with totals between 100 mm and 150 mm (3.9 – 5.9 inches) expected. Light rain may affect other parts of the central and southwestern peninsula as temperatures are forecasted to rise.

AEMET anticipates that the intensity of the storms will lessen by November 15. However, Andalusia may still face residual strong showers as the storm system weakens.

Snowfall is also expected in the Pyrenees and Cantabrian mountains, with snow levels predicted to drop to approximately 1 000 m (3 280 feet).

The previous DANA event at the end of October 2024 led to extreme rainfall in eastern Spain, especially Valencia, where numerous towns and cities faced severe flooding, widespread property damage, and ongoing cleanup efforts. Several areas experienced more than a year’s worth of rain, resulting in deaths of 223 people, with 23 missing.

This was one of the deadliest natural disasters in Spain’s history.

The Valencia region has a long history of catastrophic flooding, with records dating back to the 14^th century.

The 1957 Valencia flood, one of the most severe in the region’s history, resulted in at least 81 fatalities and was triggered by a three-day “gota fría” (cold drop), an event that frequently causes intense autumn rainfall in Spain. In 1957, the overflowing Túria River caused widespread destruction in the city of Valencia.

In response, Francisco Franco’s government undertook a project to reroute the Túria River 3 km (1.9 miles) south of its original course to shield the city center from future floods. However, this project left towns south of Valencia unprotected from similar flooding events, resulting in episodes of severe flooding.

In 2008, a proposal for a hydraulic infrastructure project aimed at safeguarding these southern towns was introduced, with an estimated budget of €200 million (USD 216 million). The plan was largely unimplemented, leaving these areas susceptible to further flooding.

In September 2019, floods in Vega Baja del Segura led to six fatalities, prompting the regional government under Ximo Puig to establish the Valencian Emergencies Unit to improve flood response.

However, following the 2023 regional elections, the newly elected government under Carlos Mazón disbanded the unit, citing it as a “superfluous expense.”

References:

¹ Aviso especial de fenómenos adversos número 19/2024 – AEMET – November 12, 2024

² Qué era la Unidad Valenciana de Emergencias, el servicio de coordinación que Mazón suspendió al llegar al Gobierno – El Diario – October 30, 2024

Teo Blašković

I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.

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