The Agencia Estatal de Meteorología has issued an Noroeste of the Región de Murcia the orange alert for torrential rain this Thursday. Aemet Locally, it expects up to 30 litres per square metre within one hour. According to the latest forecasts, the warning period begins during the day and is expected to remain in force until midnight. 30 litres per square metre is equivalent to 30 millimetres of rainfall and can generate critical run-off in a short time.
Orange is the second-highest level on Aemet’s colour-coded warning scale. It signals significant danger, with the potential for serious disruption to everyday life and infrastructure. Aemet advises people to be especially alert, as heavy showers can intensify rapidly and vary considerably over short distances. Low-lying urban areas, underpasses and basements are particularly at risk. People are advised not to park vehicles in dips or dry riverbeds, to keep away from watercourses and to follow instructions from emergency services.
According to Aemet, the storm is part of an unsettled weather system affecting the eastern part of the Iberian Peninsula. In the Región de Murcia today, the focus is particularly on the north-west (Noroeste). Depending on developments, further guidance and possibly lower warning levels have been announced for other parts of the country. Regional emergency services have increased their readiness; according to the authorities, the civil protection is coordinating prevention and public information measures.
No specific damage or injuries had been reported by the latest notice. However, rain of this intensity can quickly overwhelm drainage systems, cause local flooding and seriously disrupt traffic. Roads may become temporarily impassable, visibility and stopping distances may worsen, and landslides on slopes cannot be ruled out. Municipalities and operators of public infrastructure have been asked to keep drains clear and to implement temporary closures promptly if necessary. Aemet warning maps provide emergency and maintenance services with a basis for decisions on such measures.
Forecasts of short-lived heavy rainfall are naturally subject to uncertainty. Aemet stresses that the stated amounts are expected maximum values for some areas and will not occur everywhere. The pattern and intensity may vary considerably within a few kilometres. Aemet will publish updates to the warning situation during the day; warning levels will be adjusted if signs point to conditions easing or worsening.
Editor: Andreas M. Brucker (Article created with AI assistance).