October 29, 2024 went down in history as one of the most tragic days in the history of Spain. Just two weeks have passed since then the worst DANA of this century will cost the lives of at least 223 people in the Valencian Community and Castilla-La Mancha, and we already have another drop of cold that dumps large amounts of rain and causes severe flooding in the Mediterranean. If on Monday and Tuesday the most affected communities were the Balearic Islands and, above all, Andalusia, for the next few hours and on Thursday it is expected that the heavy rains will also hit the Valencian Community very intensely.
The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) released this on Wednesday. red warnings on the coast of Valencia, in the areas of Tarragona and in Malaga “because the danger is extreme.” The inhabitants of La Cala de Mijas were even surprised by a tornado, Efe reports.
We are faced with a new DANA or isolated depression at high levels. As explained Mar Gomezmeteorologist eltiempo.es, both what we had at the end of October and what we had this week” are the same type of phenomenon and both were located in the Gulf of Cadiz region (right now it’s west, but it’s going there). This means that, rotating counterclockwise, strong humid winds are pushed from the Mediterranean towards the Peninsula, providing a strong supply of humidity for the development of thunderstorms.” And to this, he adds, is added the orography of the area in which the water is falling.
Are they two different DANAs or are they related?
“These are two independent cold drops, “But it is surprising that both produce similar effects because both were put in a similar position,” says Mar Gómez, according to whom the catastrophe at the end of October “above all helped us to become more aware of what is happening.” entails.” and that better processes are created” to prevent harm and victims.
What is the difference with the DANA at the end of October?
According to Gómez, “the main difference with the other situation is that this Thursday DANA will evolve into a cold storm isolated and will not remain with us for about a week, as happened with the previous one.
What is the expected evolution for the next few hours?
After Monday’s floods in Almería and Tuesday’s torrential rain in the Balearic Islands, This Wednesday, November 13, will be “the peak time for this episode,” according to the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet), it rains heavily in Malaga, Granada, in the north of Castellón and in the south of Tarragona.
From Wednesday afternoon it will also rain on the Valencian coast. Very strong gusts of wind are also expected on the Mediterranean coast, on the Galician coast, at high altitude in the mountainous areas of the north-west quadrant, in the Central System and in eastern Andalusia.
The heaviest rains are expected in the first half of the day in Malaga on Thursday and on the Valencian coast, where in four or five hours it could exceed 180 liters per square meter, according to Aemet. “The danger is extreme. Avoid travel. River overflows and flooding may occur,” the weather agency noted Wednesday afternoon.
It is feared that rain will fall in some of the areas most affected by the previous DANA, where there is still a large amount of mud and material that has not yet been removed.
How much rain is expected in Malaga?
The director of the Aemet meteorological center in Malaga, Jesús Riesco, reported on Wednesday afternoon that almost 80 liters per square meter were recorded at the agency’s station in the capital of Malaga, according to Europa Press. Aemet’s prediction is that it can be downloaded up to 120 liters per square meter in twelve hours, The emergency phase of the Flood Risk Plan in Andalusia was therefore activated from Tuesday afternoon.
When will it stop raining?
This DANA is expected to become what scientists call an isolated cold storm, or BFA, on Thursday, continuing to bring heavy rain and storms that They may be extended until Saturday 16 November. For Friday 15, forecasts suggest that the rains will decrease in intensity and become more dispersed in the Mediterranean and in the south-west of the peninsula, with heavy showers still in western Andalusia, according to Meteored-Tiempo.com
Interview between Time.news Editor and Meteorologist Mar Gómez
Time.news Editor: Good morning, Mar. It’s a pleasure to have you with us today. The weather events we’ve been witnessing in Spain recently have been truly alarming. Can you help us understand what’s going on?
Mar Gómez: Good morning! It’s great to be here. Yes, we are currently experiencing what is being referred to as DANA — an isolated depression at high levels — which has caused severe flooding and tragic losses.
Time.news Editor: Just two weeks ago, we saw a devastating DANA that resulted in the loss of 223 lives, primarily in the Valencian Community and Castilla-La Mancha. Now, just after that catastrophe, we are facing another similar event. Are these two DANAs related in any way?
Mar Gómez: They are, in fact, independent cold drops, but it is striking that both have produced similar effects due to their placement in the Gulf of Cadiz region. Both events have pushed strong, humid winds from the Mediterranean towards the Peninsula, leading to these intense thunderstorms and heavy rainfall.
Time.news Editor: That is indeed concerning. What differentiates this current DANA from the one we experienced a couple of weeks ago?
Mar Gómez: The main difference is that this DANA is predicted to evolve into a cold storm and won’t linger as long as the previous one, which was with us for over a week. This indicates that while we will experience another episode of heavy rain, it won’t be as prolonged.
Time.news Editor: That’s a relief to hear. What do you predict for the immediate future? How will the weather develop in the next few hours?
Mar Gómez: According to the State Meteorological Agency, we are reaching the peak of this weather event today. Heavy rain is occurring today in places like Malaga and Granada, and we can expect it to intensify in the Valencian Community by this afternoon. The heaviest rains are anticipated tomorrow, particularly along the Valencian coast, where we could see over 180 liters of rainfall per square meter in just a few hours.
Time.news Editor: That sounds disastrous. With all this rainfall, what advice do you have for residents in the affected areas?
Mar Gómez: The most important piece of advice is to stay informed through official channels and heed any red warnings issued by the meteorological agencies. If you live in areas prone to flooding, it’s crucial to prepare an emergency kit and have an evacuation plan in place. Safety must always come first.
Time.news Editor: Thank you, Mar, for your insights. Climate-related disasters appear to be increasing in frequency and severity, which raises the question—how can we better prepare for these events in the future?
Mar Gómez: Increasing awareness is key. The recent events have already raised public consciousness about the dangers we face, and they can serve as a catalyst for more robust preventive measures and policies. We must invest in improving forecasting techniques, emergency response plans, and infrastructure that can withstand extreme weather conditions.
Time.news Editor: That’s crucial. Education and awareness can go a long way. We appreciate your time and knowledge, Mar. It’s always a pleasure to discuss these important issues with you.
Mar Gómez: Thank you! I appreciate the opportunity to inform and engage with the public about these critical topics. Let’s hope for a quick recovery for all those affected.