STORM Alice has wreaked havoc across eastern Spain and the Balearic Islands for more than a fortnight with torrential rain, harsh winds and chaotic flash flooding, and there is no sign of the bad weather letting up.
The unprecedented weather has hit the east coast from Valencia to Ibiza, claiming everything from cars to outdoor furniture in its wake, potentially spelling disaster for hopeful half-term holidaymakers.
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Just days ago, Brits were issued a rare travel warning to the popular vacation spot, warned of “extraordinary danger”.
At least 12 flights were cancelled from Alicante-Elche airport as an increasing number of sun-seeking travellers plans were halted.
In Valencia and Murcia’s airports, several flights have also been delayed.
Thousands of people have been forced to evacuate or change their travel plans as flights and trains have been cancelled, roads were blocked or flooded and people are urged to remain indoors.
Storm Alice is a DANA – which stands for “Isolated Depression at High Altitudes,” or “isolated depression at high altitudes.”
Spain’s national weather agency Aemet has issued red alerts in multiple regions, including Valencia, Alicante, Murcia, Zaragoza, Tarragona and Castellón.
Jawdropping footage from Zaragoza at the end of September has shown the beginning of the extraordinary weather wreaking havoc turning streets to rivers, swallowing vehicles up by the murky waters.
Heartstopping clips show lightning strike as rain pummelled the roads, barely leaving trees standing in the intense winds.
Drivers were also seen trapped in their vehicles in the middle of raging torrents waiting for rescuers to save them.
The deluge left authorities warning of further flash floods and extreme weather which is set to continue.
The first red alert was issued by Aemet, with warnings of “extraordinary danger” in the Tarragona, Castellón, and Valencia provinces.
Since then, local authorities have urged residents and tourists to remain inside throughout the stormy weather, or to seek higher ground in order to avoid being stuck in flood water.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called for people to take “great caution” in the face of the heavy rains.
He said on X: “Let us follow the instructions of the civil protection agency and the emergency services at all times.”
The deluge continued when Valencia and Murcia were hit by Storm Alice.
Wild weather pummelled the region, where almost 200mm of rain fell in under eight hours, with Aemet saying it was a “very complicated situation”.
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Cars were upturned and residents were seen desperately shovelling the murky stream away from their homes.
Showers thrashed Aldaia, one of Valencia’s hardest-hit areas in last year’s infamous floods.
Libraries, schools and parks were closed throughout the floods.
Following more storms in Tarragona, Catalonia’s Interior Minister, Núria Parlon told locals to “not let our guard down”.
The storm surged on, claiming holiday hotspot Costa Blanca as its next victim.
The region was issued a red alert after flash flooding was caught on camera, showing the jaw-dropping muddy torrents of water sweeping through streets regularly packed with tourists.
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Other Mediterranean coastal areas including Murcia and the Balearic Islands have also been hit.
The extreme weather even saw a tornado form in Cartagena, Murcia, after a red alert was issued for the region.
The tornado sparked mass evacuations, road closures and signal problems as terrifying footage showed the twister beneath a blanket of thick grey clouds.
Some 67 people were forced to evacuate the area, which was under red alert for raging winds and storms.
The majority of the evacuees were holidaymakers in local caravan parks, officials said.
Majorca, Ibiza and Formentera were also hit by Storm Alice, leaving the airport, popular clubs and beachside resorts closed in the weather’s wake.
Smashed by the torrential rain and flash flooding, people were urged to remain indoors.
In Costa Blanca, tourists were left stranded as flights were diverted and cancelled, while officials warned of “extraordinary danger” from flash floods, while in Catalonia drivers were forced to take shelter in emergency aid centres.
The Catalan regional government declared a state of emergency in five districts on Sunday, including hardest-hit Tarragona.
Part of the AP-7 motorway – which runs along Spain‘s Mediterranean coast – was closed in both directions with vehicles seen trapped in floodwater.
On Monday morning, a reported 1100 people had spent the night in temporary shelters opened by local councils after the storm battered the Terres de l’Ebre region on the lower course of the Ebre River.
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Adding to the chaos, rail operator Renfe suspended all trains from Barcelona and Valencia to the Mediterranean Corridor until further notice after weather agency AEMET issued a red weather alert.
In total, 17 trains were cancelled affecting 3,000 passengers.
A red alert was also issued for Valencia on Monday, as rainfall showed no signs of letting up in the region, leaving alerts in place for the Balearic Islands and Catalonia.