In response to a deluge of torrential rains, Spanish authorities have taken precautionary measures by shutting down schools, universities, and day-care centers in the coastal southeast region. This drastic action comes after a prolonged period of drought, left flooded basements, submerged vehicles, and impassable roads in its wake.
The worst-hit areas, including parts of Murcia, Valencia, and Andalusia, are expected to experience continuous heavy rainfall throughout Tuesday, May 23, prompting the government to issue high-alert flood warnings. Emergency services in the city of Cartagena are tirelessly working to drain water-soaked streets, with local television footage capturing the extent of the inundation, showing parked cars and motorbikes nearly submerged.
The national weather agency AEMET reports that certain locations in the Valencia region have witnessed more rainfall in a few days than they received over the previous six months combined. In a striking record, the town of Ontinyent in Valencia experienced the highest accumulated rainfall in one day for the month of May in the past century, with up to 130 liters per square meter (28.7 gallons per square yard).
While the heavy rains bring immediate challenges and disruptions to daily life, they may offer some relief to Spain’s prolonged drought. AEMET spokesman Ruben del Campo explains that the country was on track to register the driest spring since records began in 1961, making the rainfall a potential mitigating factor for the water scarcity issues facing Spain.
