Spain is a classic go-to for so many of us when it comes to sunny holidays.
However, Storm Jana has brought torrential rain, floods and even landslides to several Spanish hotspots typically popular for winter sun this time of year, including Malaga, Murcia, Mallorca, Alicante and Valencia. The heavy rain fell over the weekend, leading to over 100 emergency calls and multiple weather warnings, and will continue to drench Spain this week.
It’s far from ideal conditions if you have a trip booked in the next few days, so here is everything you need to know about whether it’s safe to travel, and what the weather could look like over this week.
Is it safe to travel to Spain?
While the FCDO hasn’t warned against travelling, travellers should exercise caution. Over the weekend, the region of Andalusia experienced torrential rain, hail, severe flooding and several landslides, and weather warnings for heavy rainfall and thunderstorms across the city have been extended throughout today, Monday March 10.
According to Travel and Tour World, 130 emergencies were reported in one day, with a woman being injured by a falling tree and cars being swept away by floodwaters.
Where are the floods in Spain?
The floods are impacting swathes of eastern Spain, with downpours impacting the Murcia, Valencia and Catalonia regions over the weekend, and weather warnings will be in place until at least tomorrow (Tuesday 11).
The Guadalhorce and River Grande have both overflowed, and amber-level flood warnings in multiple areas have been put in place.
What’s more, there will likely be alerts in place for strong westerly and south-westerly winds (of up to 60 km/h, or force seven) and waves of between two and three metres.
Are there more floods on the way?
Yes, according to Sur in English, rains are set to continue for most of the week on the already saturated ground. ‘They are not going to be very intense, but the most characteristic feature of this type of situation is the persistence, it is going to rain for several hours at a time,’ said Jesús Riesco, director of the Aemet meteorological centre.
Have flights been cancelled?
Yes, over the last couple of days flights have been diverted away from Malaga Airport, and passengers have been widely advised to check their flight status with their airline before heading to the airport.
What is the UK Foreign Office saying?
The FCDO hasn’t updated its travel advice page for Spain in regards to the current floods, but on the safety and security page, the section for ‘weather’ reads: ‘Flash flooding can cause travel disruption and damage to property and infrastructure. Check weather warnings from Spain’s meteorological office (AEMET) before travel and follow the advice of the local authorities.’
What are your rights if you’ve booked a trip to Spain?
Unfortunately, you won’t automatically be eligible for a no-penalty refund, as advice against travelling to Spain has not been released. However, if you’re still keen to see what can be done about cancelling or rescheduling your trip, it’s best to contact your travel provider directly.
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