Spain is bracing for tumultuous weather as Storm Martinho unleashes torrential rain and fierce winds across the country. As of March 21, 2025, authorities in Madrid are on high alert, having issued warnings for potential flooding caused by the unrelenting storm which has already made March the wettest on record in the Spanish capital.
The State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has placed all regions of mainland Spain, except the Canary Islands, under a yellow alert due to expected rainfall of up to 60 litres within a span of just 12 hours, along with wind gusts reaching as high as 90 kilometers per hour. AEMET cautioned that, "the ground is saturated, and many rivers are experiencing very high levels in the centre and south of the Peninsula. Be careful due to flooding," indicating the severity of the situation for residents.
The chaos extends beyond Madrid, with Castilla y León also experiencing a barrage of persistent rain and violent winds. As the storm rolled in from Portugal, the region has been marked by over 400 incidents, prompting emergency services to alert the public to stay vigilant. Local authorities are especially concerned around the unchannelled sections of the Manzanares River, urging people to avoid unnecessary travel and steer clear of uncontrolled riverbanks.
Moreover, the impact of Storm Martinho reverberates internationally with significant repercussions at Heathrow Airport in the UK. Following a power cut caused by a fire at an electrical substation, the airport will remain closed until 11:59pm on March 21, 2025. This unfortunate closure affects at least 1,351 flights scheduled for the day, 54 of which originated from Spain, as confirmed by airport operator Aena. Travelers are advised to check with their airlines for updates regarding their flights.
On a separate yet equally pressing issue, Spain's lawmakers recently voted to reverse a ban on the hunting of Iberian wolves, a measure implemented only three years prior by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's government. This decision has raised significant controversy and concern among wildlife advocacy groups, and conservation organizations like Ecologists in Action have labeled the change as "irresponsible." In 2021, Iberian wolves were declared a protected species, and their previous hunting ban was part of efforts to safeguard their population from extinction. The amendment passed through parliament now permits the capture and culling of wolves when they pose a threat to agriculture.
The vote supporting this amendment received backing from lawmakers across various political factions, including the conservative Popular Party (PP), the far-right Vox party, and Basque regional party PNV, indicating a growing alignment on issues surrounding agricultural protection over wildlife conservation. In response to the policy shift, the animal rights party PACMA has also condemned the change, calling it the "biggest step backwards in wildlife conservation in years," reflecting a deep concern for the balance between agricultural interests and wildlife protection in Spain.
The wolf population, which once teetered on the brink of extinction in Europe, has rebounded thanks in part to stringent protections put in place over the years. According to recent estimates, approximately 20,300 grey wolves are now primarily located in the Balkans, Nordic countries, Italy, and Spain. The modification of their protection status raises alarms about the sustainability of their populations and the delicate balance between human and wildlife coexistence.
As Storm Martinho continues to wreak havoc across Spain, the nation remains vigilant to the unfolding crises, not just from the weather, but also from the contentious policy changes concerning wildlife. The government must now navigate both the immediate impacts of this severe weather and the long-term ramifications of its wildlife legislation. These concurrent issues highlight a critical moment for Spain as it grapples with the challenges of natural disasters and environmental stewardship in a rapidly changing climate.
