Flash floods inundate Bilbao as torrential rain triggers 150 emergency incidents in Bizkaia
Heavy rain of over 70 millimetres submerged streets in Bilbao's Casco Viejo on Saturday evening, prompting the closure of the La Avanzada tunnels and triggering 137 emergency callouts across the Basque capital.
Flash floods hit Bilbao and surrounding towns
A torrential downpour lasting nearly two hours inundated streets and commercial areas across Bizkaia on Saturday afternoon, 3 October. Bilbao experienced the brunt of the storm, with the Basque emergency coordination service SOS Deiak registering 137 storm-related incidents in the city out of 150 logged across the province by 20:30. Floodwaters accumulated across the historic Casco Viejo district, catching patrons on outdoor terraces and submerging several narrow thoroughfares in less than an hour. On Artekale street in central Bilbao, water levels reached 70 centimetres, while pedestrian traffic throughout parts of the old town was impeded by knee-deep water. In nearby Leioa, transport authorities closed the La Avanzada road tunnels after heavy runoff accumulated inside the subterranean structure. Emergency services also responded to localized flooding and road hazards across Getxo, Basauri, Galdakao, Sestao, Erandio, and Llodio in neighbouring Alava.
Commercial disruption and emergency operations
In Bilbao's old quarter, shopkeepers installed wooden boards across storefront entrances to prevent runoff from penetrating their premises. Water nevertheless breached several ground-floor establishments, bars, and residential garages, prompting pumping operations by municipal firefighting crews. Cultural activities in the city centre were disrupted, including the cancellation of a scheduled performance at the Arriaga Theatre after electricity supplies failed. Municipal police and fire rescue teams launched continuous interventions across the capital beginning at 19:00, while police closed vehicle access to Askao street. Bilbao City Council dispatched two service department trucks to remain on standby through the night to assist with cleanup and drainage maintenance. Municipal authorities reported that conditions began stabilizing by 23:45 as storm intensity eased and primary drainage routes cleared.
Weather alerts and regional impact
Meteorological agency Euskalmet initially activated a yellow warning for intense rainfall at 18:00 on Saturday before raising Bizkaia to an orange alert as downpours exceeded 70 millimetres in parts of the province. The orange alert remained in effect until midnight, when storm fronts moved south toward inland areas and triggered a downgraded yellow alert through 06:00 on Sunday. The Basque downpours coincided with severe weather warnings across 11 Spanish autonomous communities on Saturday. Civil protection authorities in Catalonia declared red warnings in Barcelona and Girona, anticipating accumulations over 90 litres per square metre in one hour and 200 litres per square metre within six hours. Orange warnings for rain and thunderstorms were also active in Asturias, Cantabria, and Madrid, alongside yellow alerts spanning Andalusia, the Balearic Islands, and parts of central Spain.
- Euskalmet activates a yellow warning for intense precipitation across the Basque Country.
- Bilbao municipal police and firefighters initiate emergency responses in flooded areas.
- SOS Deiak logs 150 incidents across Bizkaia, including 137 in the city of Bilbao.
- Bilbao City Council confirms that local flooding conditions have improved.
- Bizkaia orange alert expires as storms shift south, transitioning to a yellow alert.
- Yellow weather warning period concludes across the Basque Country.
Meteorological outlook for Sunday
Euskalmet forecast persistent rainfall across the Basque Country for the early morning hours of Sunday, 4 October. Precipitation is expected to weaken across the province through the middle of the day, creating intermittent clear spells before rain potentially intensifies again inland by Sunday evening. Regional daytime temperatures are projected to decline by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius, with maximum temperatures settling between 22 and 23 degrees Celsius. Easterly winds are anticipated to dominate regional weather patterns from Sunday morning onward.
