A video circulating on social media has captured the moment massive waterspouts formed off the coast of a well-known tourist destination.
Southern Spain experienced flash floods due to intense storms just ahead of the summer holidays, with heavy rain causing flooding on roads in parts of Murcia. The area was hit by torrential downpours, leading to cars floating in floodwaters.
Offshore, several waterspouts were sighted, with witnesses observing at least three marine tornadoes. According to reports, these vortexes extended from dark storm clouds down towards the Mediterranean.
Waterspouts are rotating air columns that develop over water, capable of generating destructive wind gusts. In extreme cases, winds from waterspouts can reach speeds of up to 250km/h.
The Spanish meteorological agency AEMET issued severe weather warnings for Campo de Cartagena and a yellow alert for thunderstorms, cautioning of potential hail and strong winds.
An orange alert was in effect for heavy rainfall, with forecasts predicting up to 40mm of rain per hour. This weather pattern is part of a broader storm system affecting eastern and southern regions of Spain following a period of warm weather, bringing risks of heavy rain, thunderstorms, and rapidly changing conditions.
This severe weather event comes after earlier storms in March that resulted in one fatality in Spain, with some regions recording over 250 litres of rain per square meter and rivers swelling to dangerous levels.
Earlier in the year, Storm Leonardo caused significant disruptions in Spain, leading to train cancellations, school closures, and mass evacuations after dumping more than 15 inches of rain in a 24-hour period. In Portugal, the same storm claimed a life and forced thousands from their homes.
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