Torrential ‘Atmospheric River’ hits Southern Spain
Since the beginning of 2026, Spain has been hit by seven major storms. This train of storms is trapped between two high‑pressure systems and therefore continues to discharge rainfall over the same region. That is why this is called an ‘Atmospheric River’. According to Juanma Moreno, president of the Andalusian region, this weather phenomenon, with such devastating consequences, has never been seen before in the region.
An Atmospheric River is a long, narrow band of storms that transports enormous amounts of water. The water vapour in Atmospheric Rivers is supplied by tropical sources. Atmospheric Rivers can produce intense and widespread precipitation. According to the Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MITECO), the intensity of Atmospheric Rivers is expected to increase with climate warming.
From alert to alert
In January and February 2026, the region of Andalusia went from alert to alert for strong winds, tornadoes, extreme rainfall and landslides. In Grazalema, one of the worst-hit villages in the Andalusian mountains, the amount of rainfall has added up to nearly 2000 millimeters (mm) in one Month. In comparison, in the Netherlands the rainfall in an average year amounts to 800 mm.
Saturated ground
After a lot of rain in January, the saturated ground, started causing serious problems during the storm Leonardo in the beginning of February. Thousands of citizens were evacuated because of flooding and possible earthquakes. In some houses in Grazalema the water is coming up through the floor and flowing through electrical sockets into the houses and the authorities fear that more landslides could destroy the houses. In the village people felt the ground shaking, which is believed to be the result of hydrological movements above and below the earth.
Earthquakes
The province of Malaga has recorded several earthquakes that have been felt in various towns. The municipality of Gaucín, located in the Genal Valley in the Serranía de Ronda region, has registered a magnitude 3 earthquake. Information collected by the National Geographic Institute indicates that an earthquake occurred in the municipality on Saturday, with a magnitude of 3 and at a depth of 20 kilometers. Scientists are still investigating whether these earthquakes are caused by the extreme rainfall.
Seismic activity on 6 February 2026. Source: National Geographic Instititute
Reservoirs are filling up
After seven years of extreme drought, artificial lakes are filling up rapidly. In several areas in Andalusia the water in the reservoirs has to be released in a controlled manner to prevent dam breaches. Releasing water is also important to create capacity for additional inflow. In Andalusia the amount of water gathered in the artificial lakes has now reached 65% of total capacity.
Damaged infrastructure
The enormous amount of water is causing damage to infrastructure. Some bridges have been washed away, roads have been closed due to landslides and several towns are left without drinking water. The Andalusian president, Juanma Moreno, warned before the storm for floodings of reservoirs with polluted water from the mines in Huelva and Seville. The Spanish army assisted in securing these reservoirs.
Valencia
In October 2024, Valencia suffered from severe floods in which 229 people lost their lives. Over a 24 hour period on Tuesday, 29 October, 445 litres of rain per square meter fell. The weather event DANA caused devastating floods even in villages where no rain fell at all.
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