Benidorm, Magaluf and Ibiza warned of 'significant danger' as severe storms hit Spain

Benidorm, Magaluf and Ibiza warned of 'significant danger' as severe storms hit Spain Spain's version of the Met Office, the AEMET, has warned there is 'significant danger' of floods as heavy rainfall is expected to batter the country's south-east and the Balearic Islands Spain is bracing for more flooding after forecasters warned of ‘significant danger’, with heavy rainfall set to hit popular tourist spots Benidorm, Ibiza, and Magaluf. Much of Spain’s south-east and the Balearic Islands are subject to orange weather warnings after flash floods tore through Catalonia and Valencia on Wednesday (September 16). A search and rescue operation is underway to find a woman who was reportedly washed away in Olivella, a town 25 miles west of Barcelona, yesterday. Spain’s national forecasters, AEMET, said: “Rarely have we seen such large rainfall accumulations in 30 minutes as the one we've had today in Valencia and nearby areas.” It has since issued yellow and orange warnings for rain and possible flooding for Thursday and parts of Friday. There is ‘significant danger’ for popular Brit expat towns in southern Alicante, home to Benidorm, and the Balearic Islands, where holidaymakers venture to Ibiza, Magaluf, and Palma. Around four inches of rain (120mm) was recorded in one hour in Alicante, AEMET data said. Early yesterday morning, the organisation posted on X: “Wednesday and Thursday: very heavy showers and storms in the eastern mainland and Balearic Islands. “The intensity and persistence of the rains may cause local flooding and flash floods. Significant danger in Catalonia, south of Aragon, Valencian Community, and Balearic Islands. Exercise great caution!” Metro stations were closed in Barcelona on Wednesday, while all metro lines were suspended in Valencia, the scene of horrendous flooding in October 2024 which killed 229 people, and a top-flight football match between Levante and Athletic Bilbao was cancelled after floodwater started seeping into the players’ tunnel. Around 478 weather-related incidents were reported to emergency services in the Valencia region this week, according to the Daily Mail. Flash flooding was also seen in late August and early September. The floods come at the end of Spain’s hottest-ever summer, when temperatures reached 45.7°C in Andalusia. The country’s average temperature was 24.5°C, and it recorded 61 heatwave days in three months.