Weather tracker: Storm Leonardo continues to batter Europe and northern Africa | Europe
The Iberian peninsula has been placed under severe weather warnings as Storm Leonardo continues to lash parts of Spain and Portugal with heavy rain and strong winds.
Since Tuesday, the slow-moving system has led to widespread disruption, flooding and evacuations. More than 700 mm of rain has fallen in Grazalema, southern Spain, since Wednesday; This is approximately equivalent to the country’s average annual precipitation.
Approximately 3,500 people were evacuated across Andalusia, roads and schools were closed and transportation networks were disrupted. Spain’s state meteorological agency Aemet issued its highest red alert for heavy rainfall in parts of Cádiz and Málaga, where nearly 150 mm was recorded in just 12 hours on Thursday.
In Malaga province, a girl was reported missing after being swept away by the Turvilla river; Emergency services continue their search efforts.
Portugal, which is still recovering from the impact of Storm Kristin, which killed at least five people last week, was also badly affected. Fresh downpours caused flooding, landslides and falling trees, forcing more than 200 people to evacuate. Another death was reported in the southern Alentejo region on Wednesday, when a man’s car was swept away by floodwaters.
The effects of the storm extend beyond Europe. Flash floods caused by overflowing rivers and reservoirs in northern Morocco forced more than 100,000 people to evacuate; Among the worst affected is the city of Ksar El-Kebir in the Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region.
The extreme rainfall is being driven by a jet stream that has shifted unusually southward, causing Leonardo to intensify and stall in the region. The storm also combined with an “atmospheric river” carrying tropical moisture from the Caribbean, steadily increasing rainfall. The risk of further floods and landslides remains high, especially in southern Spain, as soils are already saturated and rivers are swollen after weeks of wet weather.
Leonardo is expected to remain near the northwest of the Iberian peninsula early next week, continuing unstable conditions. An additional 150-250 mm of rain could fall in northern and central Portugal by the end of the week.
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Penha developed from a low pressure area over the Philippine Sea late Tuesday and moved west towards Mindanao. On Thursday, the system was producing winds of 45 mph before making landfall in Surigao del Sur on Thursday.
Storm surges of up to two meters are expected in coastal areas and heavy rainfall warnings have been issued further inland; 200-300 mm of rain is expected in 24 hours. Sustained winds of 38-55 miles per hour are predicted to increase the risk of damage to buildings and vegetation. After landfall, Penha is expected to weaken as it moves across northern Mindanao and Negros island before dissipating near the island of Palawan.
