The Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (Aemet) has activated yellow alerts for rain, storms, and coastal conditions along the entire Andalusian coastline for Sunday, March 3rd. With inclement weather anticipated, Aemet has painted a picture of possible heavy rainfall, and strong winds, warning residents and visitors of the potential hazards.
According to Aemet, moderate to intense precipitation is expected, particularly impacting the provinces of Cádiz, Málaga, Granada, and Almería. Alerts for substantial rainfall were first reported for the early hours of Sunday and are set to continue throughout the day, with conditions deterioriating as the day progresses. The most severe conditions were expecting to hit regions earlier than others, with the yellow alert initially affecting the western regions but quickly extending to the eastern coastline by morning.
Specifically, Aemet predicts the possibility of rain accumulating to 40 mm within 12 hours, particularly within the Sol-Guadalhorce area of Málaga, where intense downpours may occur through the evening. They also forecast winds gusting between 50 to 60 km/h, with wave heights likely to reach three meters.
For the province of Cádiz, the rain warning will remain active until 21:00 hours, during which time accumulations could reach up to 15 mm per hour. On the other hand, the conditions for coastal areas like Huelva will see similarly concerning rainfall projections, with the yellow alert extending through the day until 21:00 hours.
Aemet provided additional specifics noting the potential for thunderstorms, particularly through the western coastline. “Se espera la posibilidad de precipitaciones moderadas, en algunos casos intensas, que podrían estar acompañadas de tormentas ocasionales,” confirmed Aemet, indicating the urgency of residents to be prepared for rapidly changing weather.
Looking to city by city forecasts, the agency emphasized the high likelihood (100%) of rain across all coastal provinces, with Cádiz, Málaga, Granada, and Almería expecting precipitation diminishing later on Sunday. This rapid decline marks a stark difference for Jaén, where only a 95% chance of rain was indicated.
Warnings have not just come from Aemet; local emergency services and the Junta de Andalucía have urged citizens to exercise caution. The 1-1-2 emergency service cautioned residents, especially those traveling through affected areas, to avoid unnecessary travel during downpours and remain vigilant when driving. They recommend people to adhere to significant safety measures amid such storms, as roads can quickly turn perilous. “If travel is unavoidable, it is important to inform yourself about road conditions before leaving and follow official communications,” they advised.
Among the safety tips issued, Aemet emphasized not to attempt crossing flooded areas or risking being swept away by strong currents. They advised minimizing time spent near coastal promenades, breakwaters, or observation points where rogue waves could pose severe risks.
Continuing the trend of heavy rains, this weekend is merely the beginning with expectations of persistent wet weather extending at least through the following week. Authorities have forecasted more rain due to the projected presence of isolated depressions, signaling even more erratic weather patterns across southern Spain. Citizens are encouraged to stay informed and exercise caution as these weather patterns develop.
Aemet has set forth urgent recommendations for citizens to keep abreast of the latest updates throughout the day to avoid confusion and misinformation during these tumultuous weather patterns. It is pivotal for residents to heed alerts and instructions from Aemet and local emergency services to remain secured during the heavy rainfall and high winds predicted for the days to come.