Spain and Portugal are currently facing the looming threat of a new storm, just days after they grappled with the aftermath of Storm Leonardo, which tragically resulted in fatalities and widespread evacuations. With authorities mobilizing extensive rescue efforts, this situation highlights both the vulnerabilities of the region to severe weather and the resilience of its communities as they work to recover and rebuild.
Spain and Portugal are preparing for the impending onset of Storm Marta, only days after the devastation caused by Storm Leonardo, which led to the loss of at least two lives—one in each country— and forced over 11,000 residents from their homes. The seriousness of the weather situation prompted the Portuguese authorities to deploy more than 26,500 rescuers, with the threat of worsening conditions leading three municipalities to postpone their presidential election originally scheduled for Sunday.
In recent forecasts, both Spain and Portugal have issued warnings of potential flooding, following heavy rains that had already inundated roads, disrupted train services, and led to significant displacement of their populations. Portugal’s meteorological authorities have underscored expectations of continued heavy rainfall, strong winds, and dangerous sea conditions with alerts now active nationwide.
Spain’s south, particularly the region of Andalusia, along with the northwest, has been placed under orange alert for severe rain and violent storms. Other regions, such as Castilla y León, Galicia, Murcia, and the Valencian Community, have also received weather warnings, signaling heightened concern about flooding and landslides due to already saturated earth. Although forecasts indicate that rainfall from Storm Marta may not be as intense as that of its predecessor, authorities still emphasize that the risk of flooding and landslides remains alarmingly high.
The new rainfall in Andalusia is set to exacerbate the effects of previously falling rains, which already resulted in extensive flooding, landslides, and the evacuation of over 10,000 individuals from their homes. Road closures and the suspension of rail services have become commonplace, with officials advising residents to limit travel as much as possible.
Mario Silvestre, a commander at Portugal’s civil protection agency, referred to the storm forecasts as “extremely worrying.” The president of Spain’s Andalusia region, Juan Manuel Moreno, echoed this sentiment on social media, warning that rivers have reached critical levels and predicting winds that could gust up to 110 kilometers per hour (68 miles per hour), along with the threat of landslides and flash floods.
Residents in affected areas, such as Francisco Marques in the central village of Constancia, reported severe property damage, with water invading homes, breaking windows, and causing extensive destruction. After surveying the damage, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stressed that “difficult days” lay ahead for the region in light of the “very dangerous” weather forecast, expressing his surprise at the extent of the rainfall witnessed.
In Portugal, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro indicated that the damage caused by Storm Leonardo alone exceeds four billion euros (.7 billion). The country had already been dealing with the aftermath of Storm Kristin, which resulted in five fatalities, hundreds of injuries, and left tens of thousands without power when Storm Leonardo struck just days later.
Portugal’s National Meteorological Institute (IPMA) has placed the entire coastline on an orange alert due to potentially dangerous sea conditions, with wave heights predicted to reach up to 13 meters (43 feet). A spokesperson for the National Civil Protection Authority highlighted the strain on river basins, specifically referencing the Tagus River in the Lisbon region and the Sado River in the south, which remain under severe pressure.
The impacts of Storm Leonardo were felt acutely across Portugal, where one fatality was reported, and 1,100 individuals were evacuated amidst emergency measures. Remarkably, a series of atmospheric depressions necessitated the release of water from the country’s dams equivalent to the nation’s total annual water consumption in a compressed timeframe of just three days, underscoring the historical challenges faced by the region amid increasing climate volatility.
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