THE Costa del Sol is bracing for torrential downpours this weekend as powerful storms trigger yellow weather alerts in inland Malaga.
Spain’s weather agency AEMET said Sunday and Monday are likely to bring the worst of the weather, with parts of the Mediterranean coast potentially receiving a whopping 250 litres of rain per square metre over the course of the storm.
Malaga is among the areas at risk, although AEMET has stressed that considerable uncertainty remains over exactly where the heaviest rain will fall.
READ MORE: ‘Unusual storm’ threatens Costa Blanca with sudden cold snap and October wash out
The dramatic change comes after a week of unusually warm and settled weather, with temperatures hovering close to 30C across parts of the province.
The first signs of trouble will arrive on Saturday, when yellow weather warnings for rain and thunderstorms come into force in the inland districts of Ronda and Antequera.
Up to 20 litres per square metre could fall in just an hour, with the warnings remaining active from midday until midnight.
However, forecasters expect conditions to deteriorate further on Sunday as a DANA – an isolated pocket of cold air high in the atmosphere – moves across Spain.
AEMET has warned that downpours could become ‘torrential and persistent’ along parts of the Mediterranean coast and nearby inland areas, potentially including the Costa del Sol.
The unsettled weather is forecast to continue into Tuesday before gradually easing.
Temperatures will also tumble, with daytime highs along the coast expected to drop to around 24C on Sunday, while inland areas such as Ronda could see maximum temperatures of just 21C.
AEMET has stressed that the precise trajectory of the DANA remains difficult to predict, meaning rainfall totals and the areas most at risk could change considerably as the weekend approaches.
Spain’s Civil Protection authorities have urged residents to monitor updated weather warnings as the storm develops.
Click here to read more Weather News from The Olive Press.