Widespread Impact of Storm ‘Emilia’
According to the latest report from Spain’s State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) on Saturday, a storm named ‘Emilia’ is affecting Spain. Although the intensity of wind and rain in the Canary Islands (Canarias) will decrease starting Sunday as the storm’s center moves west, its main impact will be concentrated on the southeastern Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula.
Valencian Community Faces Extreme Rainfall
The area expected to be most severely affected by this storm is the Valencian Community. Aemet predicts that starting Sunday, the weather in the region will remain unstable. Some parts of the province of Valencia could see accumulated rainfall exceeding 180 mm within 12 hours, accompanied by thunderstorms, posing a significant flood risk. The rain is expected to continue until early Monday morning and may extend to the province of Castellón in southern Catalonia. In response, the Valencian Community’s Emergency Coordination Center (CCE) has issued an orange alert for heavy rain and storms for the province of Valencia, and a yellow alert for the provinces of Castellón and Alicante.
Other Regions Also Affected
Besides Valencia, eastern parts of Andalusia, southeastern Castile-La Mancha, and several areas in the Region of Murcia also face the threat of heavy rainfall. The meteorological department forecasts that these areas could receive 80 to 100 mm of rain in 12 hours on Sunday. As the unstable weather persists, the area of rainfall may expand further.
Authorities Issue Emergency Response Guidelines
To cope with the potential severe weather, emergency services have issued a series of guidelines for the public and municipal authorities. Authorities specifically advise citizens to avoid parking vehicles in riverbeds, dry seasonal river channels (ramblas), and other low-lying areas prone to flooding. They also recommend placing warning signs in advance on fords or crossings that could be affected by floodwaters. For planned outdoor events, such as Christmas markets and sports competitions, organizers must implement additional reinforcement and safety measures. Furthermore, managers of temporary sites like campgrounds should immediately assess the risks and inform all relevant personnel.
Future Weather Outlook
Looking ahead to next week, the weather system will remain unstable. Starting from Tuesday (December 17), a new Atlantic disturbance is expected to reach the Mediterranean region and may merge with the existing frontal system. This development could lead to an expansion of rainfall across most of the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands (Baleares).
