Spain is bracing for more severe weather conditions after a red alert was issued for the Costa Del Sol, with locals and holidaymakers being warned of the "extreme risk" of further flooding.
Just two weeks ago, a weather phenomenon known as a DANA (Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos) - which translates to isolated depression at high levels - caused catastrophic flash flooding in the region of Valencia, killing more than 200 people. Yesterday, nine communities were warned to brace for heavy rain and the municipality of Chiva announced school classes and sports activities would be suspended due to the fear of more severe weather.
Last night, Spain's Civil Protection Agency sent a mass alert to mobile phones in the Malaga province warning in Spanish and English: "Red warning activated. Extreme risk of rainfall. Be very cautious, avoid travel."
The latest weather maps show a new DANA moving northeast to southwest from France across the Iberian Peninsula over the next few days - until at least Friday, November 15. According to Live Science, DANAs are intensified versions of a "cold drop", which occurs when a mass of warm air collides with a stagnant mass of cold air at an altitude of around 29,500 feet (9,000 meters).
This can cause a significant temperature difference between the different layers of air in the atmosphere, causing warm air to rise easily and become saturated with water vapor. Especially in humid conditions after the summer months, this temperature contract can lead to heavy storms and torrential rain.
The maps show that starting from Thursday, some areas will be at risk of more thunderstorms and persistent rainfall, which could become torrential, over the Balearis Islands, the regions on the Mediterranean coast and Andalusia. Forecasters at Net Weather said precipitation could also affect other parts of the central and southwestern peninsula of Iberia and the Cantabrian area in the north, where snow will fall over the mountains.
The forecasting service said rain over the Mediterranean areas of Spain will intensify overnight, with "locally intense rainfall" likely on the southern coasts of Valencia and from the north of Alicante. Due to intense rain in a short space of time, there is a risk of flash flooding, Net Weather added.
In a move estimated to have affected more than 300,000 pupils, it was announced all schools in the province of Malaga would remain shut today. A "preventative" evacuation began earlier of around 3,000 people living in approximately 1,000 homes near the Guadalhorce River, one of the worst-affected areas during torrential rainfall and storms a fortnight ago which were blamed for the death of a 71-year-old British expat.
Regional government representative Antonio Sanz admitted last night as he announced the residential evacuations and today’s school closures: "The situation for the province of Malaga is of extreme risk. The forecast was that we were going to be on yellow alert but weather agency Aemet has raised this to red."