The death toll from Spain’s floods rises to 158 as rescuers search for survivors

Gareth Harvey
BBC weather

Image source, EPA

The Dana weather phenomenon, which we mentioned in our previous post, is quite common in this region and occurs most often in the fall.

One study suggests that approximately 10 to 20 Dana events occur each year in the western Mediterranean and surrounding areas of the Iberian Peninsula. Although not all are as serious as those Spain is currently dealing with.

Previous heavy rain showers have hit Valencia in the past. In October 1982, approximately 550 mm of rain fell in some locations within 24 hours, ultimately leading to the failure of the Tous Dam in Valencia province, killing eight people as a result of the subsequent flooding.

In early November 1987, the La Safor region of Valencia province recorded 817 mm of rain – a 24-hour record for Spain. And more recently, in mid-September 2019, the regions of Valencia, Murcia and Almería saw significant flooding after almost 500mm of rain fell in a few days.

AEMET, Spain’s national meteorological agency, believes that the weather in recent days is comparable to the events of 1982 and 1987.

However, the intensity of such rainfall appears to be increasing due to climate change and rising global temperatures. Studies have suggested that Dana events could also increase in the fall.