The Iberian Peninsula and the Canary Islands are grappling with a severe weather breakdown caused by the deep low-pressure system Regina. The phenomenon is accompanied by an influx of air masses from Africa, carrying dense Saharan dust, leading to so-called 'blood rains.' Authorities in many Spanish regions have issued weather alerts for strong winds, high waves, and intense rainfall and snowfall in higher mountain areas.

Impact of Borrasca Regina

The deep low-pressure system brought gales, downpours, and rare snowfall to the Canary Islands, causing transport paralysis.

Saharan Dust Over Europe

A massive cloud of sand from Africa triggered the phenomenon of blood rain in Seville and Madrid, worsening air quality.

Series of Weather Alerts

The eastern and southern coasts of Spain are under yellow alerts for strong winds and dangerous maritime phenomena.

The beginning of March in Spain is marked by extreme meteorological events paralyzing life for residents from the Canary Islands to the Mediterranean coast. The key factor shaping the weather is a borrasca named Regina. Its impact is particularly felt on Gran Canaria, where an orange weather alert has been declared. Over 30 incidents related to landslides and fallen trees have already been recorded there, and snowstorms have blanketed the island's highest peaks with a white layer, a rare occurrence in this region. Difficult conditions also prevail in air transport; at Tenerife Norte Airport, flights had to be rerouted due to limited visibility and strong wind gusts. Simultaneously, a wave of Saharan dust, known as calima, is sweeping across the country. The dust cloud has already reached Madrid, Seville, and Valencia, bringing with it the risk of 'blood rains.' These are precipitations that, mixing with dust in the atmosphere, leave a rusty residue on cars and buildings. Meteorologists are urging residents to refrain from washing their vehicles in the coming days, as the phenomenon will persist until the end of the week. Saharan dust also poses a serious health challenge, especially for people with respiratory diseases, due to a drastic increase in suspended particulate matter concentration in the air. Due to its geographical location, the Iberian Peninsula is a natural recipient of tropical air masses from North Africa. Statistics indicate that the frequency of the calima phenomenon in Southern Europe has increased in recent decades due to changes in atmospheric circulation. The situation in mainland Spain is equally tense. The Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has issued yellow warnings for provinces such as Almería, Barcelona, and Valencia. In the latter region, preparing for its annual fire festival, rainfall of up to 60 liters per square meter is expected within just 12 hours. In the south of the country, in Andalusia, alerts mainly concern sea storms and gusty winds reaching speeds that hinder the normal operation of ports. While Spain battles current anomalies, UN experts warn of the return of the El Niño phenomenon later this year, which could further push global temperatures and intensify extreme weather events in the coming months. 60 l/m2 — rainfall in 12 hours forecast by AEMET for the Valencia area

Mentioned People

  • Francisco Cacho — Meteorologist for LaSexta TV warning about the effects of borrasca Regina.
  • Luismi Pérez — Meteorology expert commenting on the high weather variability in March.