Ex-hurricane GABRIELLE reaches western Mediterranean – risk of flooding due to severe thunderstorms

Severe thunderstorms
Ex-hurricane in the western Mediterranean

Severe thunderstorms with heavy rain on Spain's Mediterranean coast: Valencia particularly at risk of flooding.

Ex-Hurricane GABRIELLE has reached the western Mediterranean and will bring heavy rainfall, particularly along the east coast of Spain and the Balearic Islands, until Tuesday evening.

Flood risk

The province of Valencia in particular is experiencing torrential rainfall of 200 to 300 litres per square metre, with peaks even higher. Fortunately, most of the rain is falling over the open sea. By way of comparison, the city of Valencia receives an average of around 480 litres over the course of a whole year.

The popular holiday islands of Ibiza and Mallorca will also experience turbulent weather. Severe thunderstorms could also bring heavy rainfall here.

This is how showers and thunderstorms move inDevelopment in the weather radar

On Sunday evening, severe weather struck the area around Zaragoza in north-eastern Spain. Flash floods swept away cars and caused devastating damage.

Late in the evening, the first rainfall reached the coastal city of Valencia: