Storm Leonardo Unleashes Devastating Floods in Southern Spain
Grazalema, a village in the Cadiz mountains of Spain, is facing a crisis as record-breaking rainfall from Storm Leonardo causes widespread flooding and damage. Residents are describing a scene of “absolute terror” as water pours through electrical sockets and walls appear to “bleed” under the immense pressure, .
The historic deluge has already dumped 346mm of rain on the region and continues to fall. Terrifying footage circulating online shows water erupting from floor tiles and plug sockets, with saturated earth unable to absorb any more moisture. The situation is so severe that the military has been deployed to assist.
The extreme weather isn’t limited to Grazalema. In Ubrique, also in the province of Cadiz, a house was completely destroyed by a rockfall, injuring at least one person who reportedly suffered “multiple traumas.” Footage shows a boulder obliterating a white house and crushing a car. Ubrique is situated between the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park and the Los Alcornocales Natural Park.
According to data from the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), as of , 151.9 mm of rain had fallen in six hours, 314.7 mm in twelve hours, and 352.0 mm in twenty-four hours. This surpasses previous 24-hour records of 349mm, though direct comparison with past events is complicated by changes in measurement timing – previous records were calculated at 7:00 AM the following day.
The combination of strong moisture inflow from the west and the specific topography of the Sierra de Grazalema is contributing to the exceptionally heavy rainfall. Instability in the lower layers of the atmosphere, up to approximately 3000 meters, is also fueling convective showers that further intensify the precipitation.
The flooding extends beyond Cadiz. Heavy rainfall is also being reported in the Sierra Nevada and the Rif region of Morocco, with the Rif region exceeding 200 mm of rainfall. At higher elevations, this precipitation is falling as snow, creating a snowpack significantly above average – a stark contrast to the conditions in the Swiss Alps.
The current crisis follows devastating floods in eastern Spain in October 2024, which killed more than 200 people, displaced over 400, and left hundreds of thousands without access to water or electricity. That event was driven by an upper-tropospheric cut-off low, known as a DANA in Spanish, which brings cold air and warm, moist air inland, leading to significant rainfall and flash floods.
The region is currently under a red alert from Aemet, the state weather agency, as Storm Leonardo continues to batter the area. Dramatic scenes are emerging, with streets completely submerged and homes and schools filling with water as residents attempt to clear the deluge.
