Spain on alert for heavy rain, wind, more flooding

OVIEDO, Spain

Much of Spain is on high alert Thursday as the powerful storm Martinho sweeps across the country, bringing heavy rain, strong winds, and the risk of further flooding, the national meteorological agency AEMET warned.

Martinho is the fourth major storm to hit Spain in just 12 days.

Earlier this week, three people in Andalucia lost their lives while traveling on flooded roads during Storm Laurence, which also caused extensive material damage.

While northern Spain braces for powerful winds, AEMET has warned of potential river flooding, particularly in central Spain and western Andalucia.

“The problem is that it's raining on completely saturated ground. It's not just that a lot of rain is expected — which it is — but that the ground can no longer absorb any more water because so much has already accumulated,” AEMET spokesperson Ruben del Campo told the Spanish daily El Pais.

March is on track to be one of the wettest on record, and it is bringing an end to Spain’s long-term drought, AEMET posted on X Thursday.

The meteorological agency also warned that climate change is making such extreme weather events more frequent, with prolonged droughts alternating with intense rainfall.

Last October, record rainfall triggered historic floods that killed around 230 people and devastated parts of the Valencia region.

Valencia’s iconic Fallas festival, which concluded this week, also saw heavy rain, making it one of the wettest weeks of festivities on record.

The Spanish capital Madrid has also registered more rain this month than any time since 1893, according to the Retiro weather station. ​​​​​​​

The Madrid region remains on high alert for flooding Thursday, with roads closed in some areas, more than 400 people evacuated, and authorities urging caution.​​​​​​​