AEMET Red Alert in Cáceres and Ávila as Storm Charles Hits Spain
Storm Charles reaches mainland Spain on Nov. 11 with heavy rain and strong gusts. AEMET has a red warning for parts of Cáceres and Ávila.
Storm Charles is due to reach mainland Spain on Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 11, bringing heavy rain and wind gusts that at times reach hurricane force, according to The Local Spain. AEMET (Agencia Estatal de Meteorología, Spain’s state weather agency) has put a red warning in place for the north of Cáceres and the south of Ávila.
Most of the rest of the mainland is under yellow or orange alerts, and in the Canary Islands the weather has already cancelled flights and closed schools.
Two low-pressure systems meet
AEMET describes the situation as the convergence of two low-pressure systems, each named by the agency. The first, Bruna, sits to the northwest of Spain. For several days it has been bringing rain, wind and rough seas to the Atlantic coast and the Canary Islands.
The second, Charles, is moving quickly and is expected to gain strength over the coming hours. It passed the Canary Islands and Madeira before heading for the mainland. Charles is also carrying warm tropical air, which is why AEMET expects heavy rain, especially in mountainous areas, on top of the very strong winds.
Where the warnings apply
AEMET issued a special warning for heavy and persistent rain, very strong gusts and rough seas across many parts of the country. Its alert map shows yellow or orange warnings over most of Spain. The red warning, the most serious level shown in the report, covers only the north of Cáceres and the south of Ávila.
The whole mainland except Asturias and Cantabria is on alert for heavy rain or gale-force winds on Wednesday. Rain is forecast across almost the entire country, at times with thunderstorms. Intensity eases toward the north-east, with the exception of the Pyrenees.
How much rain is expected
In large areas of the west, south and center of the peninsula, more than 40 to 60 litres per square meter could fall. The heaviest totals are forecast for the mountain ranges of north-western Andalusia: the Sierra Nevada, Grazalema, the Ronda mountains and the Sol and Guadalhorce areas. There, rainfall could pass 80 litres, according to the report.
Canary Islands already affected
The islands are seeing particularly severe conditions. Gusts are forecast to reach up to 130 km/h on La Palma, where a dozen flights have been cancelled. Classes have been suspended on Tenerife, La Palma and La Graciosa.
What this means for people in Spain
For residents and visitors, the practical effect on Wednesday is rain, wind and rough seas across most of the country, with the worst conditions in the south, the west and the Canary Islands. Anyone with travel plans in affected regions faces possible disruption, as the Canary Islands flight cancellations show.
AEMET posted on social media that Wednesday is a very adverse day because of rain, wind and bad sea conditions, and it asked people to stay informed about the weather and follow the recommendations of Protección Civil (Spain’s civil protection service). Readers should follow official warnings and local authorities, and check AEMET’s alert map for the warning level in their area, since levels differ from one region to another.
Source: The Local Spain
