Spain was hit by an unprecedented meteorological phenomenon for the month of October. Last Sunday, the Peninsula and the Balearic Islands (a Mediterranean archipelago) were the stage for 83,230 electrical discharges, breaking a historic record that had stood for over two decades.
As reported by the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet)—Spain's official national weather service—this event was the climax of a torrential rain episode that began on Thursday in the eastern third of the peninsula. While October 2nd and 3rd already showed a high incidence of lightning, the close of the week was truly disruptive.
Water Impact: The Drama in Catalonia
The intensity of the precipitation was especially severe in Catalonia (the northeastern region including Barcelona), where the volume of water exceeded 200 liters per square meter in critical points. Rubén del Campo, spokesperson for Aemet, highlighted the violence of the storm in Vilasar de Dalt, where 176 liters fell in a span of just six hours.
Quick Summary
- Phenomenon: Record electrical activity and torrential rains.
- Affected Areas: Peninsula, Balearics, Catalonia, and Badajoz.
- Cause: Unstable episode starting the previous Thursday.
The storm was not limited to the northeast; in Extremadura (a western region bordering Portugal), the town of Barca Rota recorded a torrential downpour that left 70 liters per square meter in just 60 minutes, evidencing the atmospheric instability that affected various regions of the country.