Storm Regina to Sweep Across Spain with Heavy Rain, Strong Winds and Saharan Dust

Storm Regina is set to reach the Iberian Peninsula on 3 March — the 17th named storm of the season, matching the record of 2023–2024. According to Spain’s state meteorological agency Aemet and forecasters at Meteored, the system will bring heavy rain, strong winds and Saharan dust, which could result in so-called “mud rain” across many regions.

On Tuesday morning, intense rainfall is forecast in Galicia, Andalusia, the Valencian Community, Cuenca and Albacete. In Andalusia — particularly in Seville and Cádiz — significant accumulations are expected by the evening. In the Canary Islands, rain will affect Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.

Winds will also strengthen, with gusts exceeding 70 km/h along the coasts of Almería, Murcia and Alicante. Wave heights could reach up to three metres. Weather warnings for adverse conditions have been issued in several provinces.

On Wednesday, 4 March, the storm is expected to intensify, bringing further downpours to Andalusia, Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha, Murcia and parts of Madrid.

From Thursday 5 March, conditions may worsen as a new DANA (Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos — an isolated high-altitude low-pressure system) develops, bringing additional rainfall to Galicia, Castilla y León, Asturias, Cantabria, western Castilla-La Mancha and northern Extremadura. Preliminary forecasts suggest that by the weekend, total rainfall could exceed 100 litres per square metre in parts of the Valencian Community, Catalonia and Teruel.

Spain’s Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Emergencies is urging caution, advising residents not to cross flooded roads, to stay away from rivers and to secure doors and windows. The situation remains dynamic, and forecasts may be updated in the coming days.