Residents in Almeria have been warned to avoid unnecessary journeys after Civil Protection sent an emergency alert to mobile phones as torrential rain raised the risk of flash flooding.
The Junta de Andalucia activated the Es-Alert emergency warning system on Saturday, October 17, after the weather warning was raised to red for Almeria city and the Poniente area, where intense rainfall could cause dangerous flooding and sudden rises in water levels. The warning urged residents to take extreme care, avoid unnecessary travel and stay away from rivers, ramblas and flooded areas.
El Ejido and the Poniente worst hit by rain
The Poniente area has recorded some of the heaviest rainfall so far, with weather stations in El Ejido reporting particularly high totals.
Figures published by Diario de Almeria on Saturday showed 44.6 litres per square metre at the El Ejido-Paraje El Aguila station, while Cañada Cortés recorded 40.1 litres. Other notable readings included 28.7 litres at Viator-La Juaida Norte and 21.3 litres at Dalías.
These measurements show where the rain has been heaviest, although they do not necessarily reflect the amount of flooding in every neighbourhood. The red warning covered Almeria city and the Poniente, while the Levante area was also under a rainfall warning. Other parts of the province, including the Almanzora Valley, Los Velez, Nacimiento and Campo de Tabernas, were under lower-level warnings.
Ahora mismo, en Huércal de Almería…
Tened cuidado… https://t.co/nQoKksT4nc
— 🎹El Pianista🎹 (@juanmi_almeria) October 17, 2026
What did the emergency phone alert say?
The Es-Alert message was sent to mobile phones in the affected areas to warn people of the danger posed by intense rainfall and possible flooding. Residents were told to avoid unnecessary journeys and not to cross ramblas, watercourses or flooded roads. The system allows emergency authorities to send urgent warnings directly to phones in a defined geographical area.
The Junta has also activated the pre-emergency phase of Andalucia’s flood-risk plan, known as operational situation 0. This allows emergency services to step up monitoring and coordinate their response as the weather develops.
More heavy rain could be on the way
⚠️🔴 AVISO ROJO | Lluvias torrenciales
📌 Zona de aviso de Poniente y Almería capital.🗓️ Sábado 17 hasta las 16:59 h.
➡️ Acumulados superiores a 60 l/m² en una hora.⚠️ Situación muy adversa, especialmente en la zona de El Ejido. Sigue las recomendaciones de Protección Civil. https://t.co/7OFDPPGddV
— AEMET (@AEMET_Esp) October 17, 2026
The danger is not necessarily over. Storm Adam is expected to bring further heavy and persistent rain to parts of Spain’s Mediterranean coast over the weekend and into Monday, October 19. Spain’s national Civil Protection service has warned that intense downpours could trigger local flooding, particularly in low-lying areas, as well as sudden rises in normally dry riverbeds and ramblas.
Residents in Almeria are advised to follow updates from AEMET and Andalucia’s emergency services, avoid flooded roads and never attempt to drive or walk through fast-moving water. Anyone facing an immediate emergency should call 112.
Meanwhile, in Sierra Nevada
The temperature throughout Spain is taking a big plunge this weekend. There are even reports of snowfall on the slopes of Sierra Nevada, the first of the winter season.
