Since early March, mainland Spain has been hit by powerful downpours, snowstorms, and floods.
Valencia, Murcia, and Andalusia have recorded extreme rainfall, with the highest amounts in Castellón — over 10 inches. In Valencia, hazardous weather forced school closures and road shutdowns. In Murcia, one person lost their life, presumably after attempting to drive across a flooded riverbed.
Heavy snowfall blanketed the Northern Plateau and Central System. In Soria, nearly 500 vehicles were stranded in deep snow, while a state of emergency was declared in Castile and León.
In Jerez, a torrential hailstorm dumped over 4.7 inches of rain in less than 30 minutes, leading to severe flooding of homes and businesses. One local woman faced an agonizing choice — rescue her two small children or her disabled father. Fortunately, help arrived in time.
On the AP-4 highway, the storm stranded 40 people in their vehicles, requiring rescue operations. The hail and rain also caused significant damage to the Jerez – Ángel Nieto Circuit, where a MotoGP World Championship race is scheduled for late April.
On March 3, a storm with intense rainfall also struck the Canary Islands. Roads on Gran Canaria were flooded, causing numerous accidents. The worst-hit area was the municipality of Telde, where 1.2 inches of rain fell in less than an hour. Raging floodwaters swept cars away, dragging them under bridges and into the sea. The situation worsened when a reservoir burst, releasing 185,000 gallons of water. Flooding and landslides rendered several coastal areas inaccessible.
Snowfall also hit Tenerife and La Palma, leading to road closures due to icy conditions.
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