A powerful DANA (Isolated Depression at High Levels) is forecast for Spain’s Alicante this weekend, bringing heavy rains and storms
All of the autonomous communities in Spain, with the exception of the Canary Islands, are under a yellow or orange weather warning due to the risk of intense rainfall.
The rains are expected to be especially intense and persistent in the eastern Cantabrian Sea, upper Ebro, eastern Castilla y León, the Valencian Community, Catalonia and Ibiza. In areas of the Mediterranean, accumulations of between 30 and 60 litres per square meter could be reached in one hour.
This morning, an intense waterspout left nearly 30 litres per square meter in Logroño, causing incidents throughout the city and flooding the Las Gaunas sports centre. In the city of Valencia, the effects of the dana have begun to be felt. The sky has closed in, the first thunder has been heard, and it has started to rain.
The firefighters in Castellón are urging people to exercise extreme caution before the arrival of the first intense storms in the province. In inland areas, such as the Vilanova de Alcolea region, 41 litres have been collected in a few minutes.
The DANA is expected to mark the instability situation throughout this weekend, with a predominance of cloudy skies and abundant rainfall with storms. These are expected to be more intense and abundant in the northeastern half of the peninsula and central areas. They can become strong and persistent, with greater probability, in a wide environment from the Basque Country and Navarra, passing through Aragon, east of the North Plateau and north of the South Plateau, to Catalonia and the Valencian Community as well as, in the end, in Melilla, southeast coast and the west of the Balearic Islands.
The good news is that the DANA is expected to clear up by Monday, and the weather will start to improve. However, there is still a chance of some rain on Sunday, so it is best to be prepared.
Here are some tips for staying safe during the DANA:
- Avoid driving if possible. If you must drive, be aware of the risks of flooding and slippery roads.
- Stay away from flooded areas.
- Be careful of fallen trees and power lines.
- Listen to the radio or TV for updates on the weather conditions.
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