SPAIN is bracing for torrential rain, flash flooding and a sharp drop in temperatures this weekend as the first named storm of the season approaches the country.
Storm Adam, named by state meteorological agency Aemet on Friday, is expected to bring particularly severe conditions to the Mediterranean coast.
READ MORE: ‘Unusual storm’ threatens Costa Blanca with sudden cold snap and October wash out
— AEMET (@AEMET_Esp) October 17, 2026?? Dana Adam: Intensa actividad tormentosa este sábado.
?? Chubascos fuertes muy repartidos por la Península, con posible granizo.
? En zonas costeras de Cataluña y áreas de la Región de Murcia y Almería, chubascos muy fuertes y persistentes: peligro importante. ¡Precaución! pic.twitter.com/vhKYMmPqC3
Intense thunderstorms are forecast across the peninsula, with Aemet issuing yellow alerts for regions including Andalucia, Extremadura, Murcia, Valencia, Madrid, Catalunya and the Basque Country.
Orange alerts are active in Almeria and Barcelona for ‘very heavy and persistent showers’, with up to 30mm of rain expected to fall in just an hour.
— Meteocat (@meteocat) October 17, 2026??El Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya actualitza avís de situació meteorològica de perill (#avisosSMP) per intensitat de pluja en 30 minuts??
? Ds. de 14 h a dt. 02:00 h.
?? Possibilitat de precipitació > 40 mm / 30 minuts
? Grau de perill màxim: 5/6Hora local (h) = TU+2 pic.twitter.com/mtfJZJCIwh
Meteocat, Catalunya’s weather agency, have gone further and issued a red alert for parts of the region, including Maresme, Valles, Oriental and La Selva.
The red warning, ranked as five out of six on the danger scale, will be in force from 2pm to 8pm on Saturday, with forecasters warning that more than 40mm of rain could cascade on the area in just 30 minutes.
????Como el gobierno valenciano no lo hará y encima luego dirá que nadie supo prevenirlo, os lo comparto yo. Tenemos ahora mismo esta previsión para el domingo que volvería a dar bastantes litros en el valle del Turia, así que ojo a los que vivís por allí o teníais pensado ir.… pic.twitter.com/hMJq7KC4Rg
— PokeTiempo?? (@poke_tiempo) October 16, 2026
Civil Protection have activated a flood emergency plan and will send a mobile phone alert to affected residents on Saturday morning.
The worst of the downpours is expected to hit on Sunday and Monday, when the latest weather models suggest more than 200mm of rain could fall around Valencia – with some scenarios forecasting eye-watering totals of up to 350mm.
The north of Alicante province and parts of Valencia are expected to be hardest hit with Aemet issuing a rare red ‘danger to life’ alert, raising the risk of sudden flooding in ravines, river channels and urban areas.
The Balearic Islands could also see intense downpours, with more than 50mm of rain possible in an hour in some areas.
Los acumulados previstos para este domingo en la Comunidad Valenciana en menos de 24 horas son una auténtica barbaridad. ?? Situación peligrosa que hay que seguir muy de cerca.
— ElTiempoEnMálaga (@ElTiempoEnMlag1) October 17, 2026
No tardarán en aparecer los avisos rojos por esa zona ??? pic.twitter.com/rhleHa21kg
Authorities have urged residents to avoid unnecessary journeys during periods of heavy rain and to keep away from rivers, streams and other flood-prone areas.
Storm Adam is also expected to cause a steep drop in temperatures.
READ MORE: Woman slips under a car and drowns in just a foot of floodwater during torrential storms in Mallorca
— AEMET (@AEMET_Esp) October 16, 2026?? AVISO ESPECIAL | Chubascos y tormentas muy fuertes y persistentes en litoral mediterráneo peninsular y en Baleares.
?? A lo largo del episodio podrán acumularse más de 300 l/m² en algunos puntos. Probables inundaciones y crecidas de cauces.
Some parts of eastern Spain could see the mercury plummet by up to 12C compared with the ‘Indian Summer’ of recent days.
The storm is being driven by two pockets of cold air developing around the Iberian Peninsula – one around the Bay of Biscay and another near the Gulf of Cadiz.
— AEMET (@AEMET_Esp) October 16, 2026? Aemet nombra la primera dana con gran impacto de la temporada: Adam.
?? Chubascos muy fuertes y persistentes en zonas del área mediterránea peninsular y Baleares.
?? Situación adversa a partir del sábado 17. Consulta avisos en vigor. Sigue recomendaciones de Protección Civil pic.twitter.com/O7J7Hdh5Gs
Their interaction is expected to steer moisture-laden winds towards the Mediterranean, creating the perfect conditions for persistent and potentially torrential downpours.
Residents are urged to follow updates from the relevant authorities as the DANA system continues to develop.
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