Spain experienced highly changeable conditions on 3 October 2026. The state weather agency Aemet placed large parts of the country under alerts for heavy showers and thunderstorms. These included areas of the Community of Madrid, where the alert level was orange at times. Aemet warned of a risk of heavy, short-lived downpours that could cause flooding in low-lying areas, as well as squalls and isolated hailstorms. Authorities urged the public to keep away from underpasses, ravines and areas at risk of flooding.
Away from mainland Spain, the Canary Islands reported a significant disruption to the power supply. On Lanzarote a so-called ‘cero energético’ occurred in the early hours, with the grid almost completely failing. According to the island authorities and the Gobierno de Canarias pre-alert level of the emergency plan PLATECA was activated. The Cabildo de Lanzarote said that critical infrastructure, including desalination plants, was affected for a time. Technicians continued repairs to a substation during the morning, before power was gradually restored. The relevant authorities announced investigations into the cause and course of the disruption.
While fire brigades and civil protection services in many areas reported being on heightened alert because of the weather, conditions remained comparatively calm on the Galician Atlantic coast. On Isla de La Toja the Foro La Toja met as scheduled. The event went ahead without weather-related disruption. The contrast between calm weather at the venue and heavy rain in other regions shaped the picture of an overall unsettled day.
According to public broadcasters in the Canary Islands and official statements, the main disruptions occurred in the morning and evening. Aemet said that thunderstorms were likely to continue in parts of the Iberian Peninsula. Forecasts point to conditions easing quickly in some regions, while heavy follow-on rain remains possible in others. Final assessments – particularly of the power outage on Lanzarote – are pending technical reports from network operators and the relevant authorities.
Authorities advise travellers and commuters to follow local guidance and monitor alerts. Aemet recommends particular caution in areas where rainfall is intensified by the terrain. In the Canary Islands, the stability of power supply systems is to be reviewed under stress and reserve scenarios following the outage.
Editor: Andreas M. Brucker (Article created with AI assistance).