The rain hits Spain… but it’s baking in the UK! Weather warnings are issued as torrential downpours spark floods across Brits’ favourite holiday destination
- Madrid’s mayor on Sunday advised all residents to stay at home amid flooding
- Up to 120 litres per square metre of rain could fall over 12 hours in Madrid
Spain is set for brutal flooding this week as the typically sun-baked streets are soaked with monsoon-like rainfall, prompting widespread transport cancellations that are sure to cause a headache for Brits enjoying a late summer getaway.
Madrid’s mayor on Sunday advised all residents to stay at home as the capital braced itself for torrential rain and storms affecting several parts of Spain.
National weather agency AEMET issued a maximum red alert, which means possible extreme danger, for Sunday in the Madrid region, Toledo province, and the city of Cadiz.
It said up to 120 litres per square metre of rain could fall over 12 hours in Madrid – smashing the previous record for rainfall there 87 litres per square metre set in 1972.
It comes as Britons are set to bask in a heatwave this week as a weather map shows temperatures could reach 29C today.
After a somewhat gloomy summer, the start of autumn is making up for it, with the mercury forecast to get as high as 32C by mid week.
Madrid’s mayor on Sunday advised all residents to stay at home as the capital braced itself for torrential rain and storms affecting several parts of Spain
Emergency services prepare to evacuate a stranded driver
A man in his house flooded by the rains, on September 3, 2023, in Les Cases d’Alcanar, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
Meanwhile, the beach and esplande were packed yesterday afternoon in Bournemouth, Dorset, as the UK enjoys a September heatwave
A family enjoys the warm weather in Bradford, West Yorkshire, on Sunday, with temps in the UK set to climb into the mid 30s this week
View of a flooded road in Villanueva de Bogas, Toledo, Spain September 3, 2023
The street flooded by the rains, on September 3, 2023, in Les Cases d’Alcanar, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
The forecasts of heavy rain in central Spain led authorities to suspend transport, cancel major sporting events and issue stay at home orders for millions of people.
Spain’s state rail authority said the service between Madrid and the eastern coastal area of Valencia – one of the country’s largest and most frequented – has been suspended until further notice, along with several other lines.
READ MORE: Sun-seeking Britons pack out Bournemouth beach as they enjoy sunshine and blue skies before 32C HEATWAVE
Pedro Ruiz of Madrid’s emergency services said the city has activated protocols to prepare for flooding.
The agency said it sent text messages to Madrid residents with instructions to stay at home and avoid using cars with streets set to be overtaken by the deluge.
Madrid mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida called for people to remain off the streets to help emergency crews move with greater speed during what he said was expected to be ‘an exceptional and truly rare situation in terms of precipitation’.
Meanwhile, the Spanish football league said it postponed Atletico Madrid’s home game with Sevilla after considering the warnings from the weather service and the recommendation of Madrid’s municipal government.
The savage weather conditions persist after Spanish resort towns were punished by floods and powerful winds last week.
The island of Majorca battled hurricane-force winds of more than 75mph, as stunned holidaymakers have shared footage of tourists running for shelter as sun loungers were sent flying across swimming pools and beaches.
Severe warnings were issued across the holiday hotspots of Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera, and more than 100 flights were cancelled or diverted at Palma, Ibiza and Menorca due to strong winds and rain.
The intense downpours come after Spain endured an intense heat wave and persistent high temperatures in August.
Now Britain is looking forward to sunnier forecasts.
The Met Office says a jet stream – which has been bringing largely unsettled spells of weather to the UK – is continuing to shift north, allowing higher pressure to build widely across the country.
Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Chris Bulmer, said ‘fine and settled conditions will develop and along with this we will see a rise in temperature across most parts of the UK this week.
Madrid mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida called for people to remain off the streets to help emergency crews move with greater speed during what he said was expected to be ‘an exceptional and truly rare situation in terms of precipitation’
Cars are stuck on a highway in Spain amid heavy flooding
In the municipality of Santa Barbara, the river has overflowed through the town centre, flooding garages and the ground floors of houses
People enjoy the warm weather while out punting on the River Cam in Cambridge on Sunday
There were queues to get on to the pier on Bournemouth beach
‘Many places can expect to see maximum temperatures rise to 25C or above for several days, which would bring some locations into the realm of heatwave conditions.
‘Although the highest temperatures are likely to be in the south and east of England, these areas also have higher temperature thresholds for heatwave conditions to be declared.
‘So, while some areas may just miss out on the actual definition, regardless of thresholds, many areas will enjoy a fine period of weather with plenty of sunshine and temperatures are likely to be the highest for many since June or early July.’
‘Most places are going to see wall-to-wall sunshine by the middle of the week, which is something we haven’t seen for much of the summer,’ Met Office senior operational meteorologist Amy Bokota said.
‘It’s going to feel warmer than we would expect for the start of autumn, particularly in London and the South East, where the heatwave threshold could be met.
‘But it will also feel humid and muggy in some areas, with temperatures in parts of the country staying above 20C (68F) overnight, making for uncomfortable sleeping conditions.’
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