Europe braces for storms as Spain reels from deadly floods and UK faces winter tempests
Eastern Spain is recovering from severe flooding caused by Storm Adam, which brought torrential rain earlier this week. In Pego, Alicante, 632mm of rain fell in 36 hours, with 430mm of that in just six hours, while Olivia, Valencia, saw 600mm in 24 hours. At least five people died, 500 were rescued, and 2,100 were evacuated. On Monday, 145 municipalities across Valencia and Alicante imposed temporary lockdowns affecting about 850,000 residents. The Balearic Islands also suffered, with more than 130 incidents recorded in Ibiza, including standing water at the airport that led to flight diversions and suspensions. While the worst of Storm Adam has passed, conditions are improving across Valencia and Alicante, though local disruption is expected to continue.
UK and Ireland face back-to-back storms
Meanwhile, the UK is experiencing its first named winter storm, Storm Austen, which is moving through the Channel. It is bringing damaging winds to south-west England, Wales, south-west Ireland, and northern France, with gusts around 50-60mph and up to 80-90mph on exposed north-western coasts of France. A second system, Storm Boelo, is expected to track across northern Scotland from Saturday into Sunday. It will bring very unsettled conditions to much of the UK and Ireland, with further damaging winds and heavy, prolonged rain. Western Scotland and western Ireland could see gusts up to 70-80mph in exposed areas, while rainfall of 10-20mm is expected broadly, with 30-60mm in western parts of Ireland, Wales, and south-west England. This additional rain on top of Storm Austen’s rainfall will increase the risk of flooding.
In Asia, Super Typhoon Champi is heading towards China and Japan after passing north-eastern Taiwan on Friday. It has weakened since Wednesday but remains a significant typhoon with sustained winds of 121mph and gusts up to 185mph. Taiwan is bracing for up to 900mm of rain in mountainous regions of the north and east from Tuesday to Saturday, with school closures, cancelled flights, six-metre waves, and damage expected.
