Spain is grappling with a violent weather breakdown caused by a deep low-pressure system named Regina. The State Meteorological Agency AEMET has issued numerous warnings for downpours, gusty winds, and the calima phenomenon, which will bring so-called mud rains. The most critical situation is on the Canary Islands and along the eastern and southern coastal strip of the mainland, where orange and yellow alerts have been declared due to threats to public safety and navigation.
Alerts on the Canary Islands
An orange alert level has been declared for Lanzarote and Fuerteventura due to downpours and wind.
Threatened Celebrations in Valencia
Forecasted rainfall above 100 liters per square meter calls into question the safety of the mascletà pyrotechnic shows.
Mud Rains in the Center
Dust from the Sahara combined with the Regina front will cause mud rains in, among others, Madrid and Castile.
Storm on the Eastern Coast
Yellow coastal alerts have been activated in Murcia, Alicante, and Almería due to strong sea swells.
The deep pressure system Regina, classified by forecasters as a 'borrasca de gran impacto' (high-impact low), has covered a significant part of Spain's territory. The most dramatic weather events are currently being observed in the Canary archipelago. AEMET has raised the threat level there to orange for the islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, where extreme rainfall and strong wind gusts are expected. The rest of the archipelago remains under yellow alerts, signaling a real danger of local flooding and disruptions to air and sea transport. On the Iberian Peninsula, the weather situation is equally complicated due to the co-occurrence of precipitation with an influx of air masses from North Africa. The phenomenon known as calima will cause mud rains in Madrid and other central regions. Saharan dust particles bind with water droplets, forming a residue that dirties facades and vehicles. Particular concerns relate to the Valencia region, where traditional mascletà celebrations are beginning. Forecasted rainfall exceeding 100 liters per square meter within a week may force the cancellation of these mass pyrotechnic events. The Iberian Peninsula, due to its location, is a natural area where humid Atlantic masses clash with dry, dusty air from the Sahara, regularly leading to the occurrence of violent storm phenomena of destructive force.Along the Mediterranean coast, from Almería to Barcelona, coastal hazard warnings are in effect. High waves and stormy conditions have forced port authorities in Murcia and Alicante to implement safety procedures. Although Monday brought a temporary warming and temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius in some regions, this is a transient phenomenon preceding the arrival of the main storm front associated with Regina. Forecasters predict that unstable conditions will persist throughout the first decade of March, affecting tourist plans and the local agriculture-based economy, which on one hand needs rain but on the other fears violent hailstorms and gales. „La borrasca Regina tendrá un gran impacto, dejando lluvias abundantes y fenómenos costeros significativos en amplias zonas del país.” (The borrasca Regina will have a major impact, leaving abundant rainfall and significant coastal phenomena in wide areas of the country.) — AEMET Statement In cities such as Seville, Cádiz, and Málaga, the change in weather will be felt through sudden storms, which according to forecasts may occur with high intensity in the afternoon hours. Authorities urge particular caution near riverbeds and in mountainous areas, where rain may turn into wet snow. Meteorological monitoring is ongoing, and further updates to warnings will be published as the low-pressure center moves over the Peninsula.