Third Major Storm in a Week Brings Fresh Devastation to Iberian Peninsula
Residents in the village of Ubrique, located in the Cadiz province of south-western Spain, have been confronted with severe flooding on their streets. This comes as the Iberian peninsula endures its third significant storm within a matter of days, following the destructive impacts of Storms Kristin and Leonardo.
Storm Marta Compounds Recent Deadly Weather Events
Storm Marta swept across Spain and Portugal on Saturday, delivering intense torrential rainfall that resulted in the tragic loss of two lives. This latest weather system arrives just days after the region was battered by two other severe storms. Storm Kristin, which moved through Portugal last week, claimed at least five lives, while Storm Leonardo was responsible for another fatality last Wednesday.
The cumulative effect of these consecutive storms has led to widespread flooding and caused major infrastructural damage across affected areas. The outlook for the coming week indicates that more rainfall is anticipated across Spain, Portugal, and neighbouring France. Particular concern is focused on north-west Portugal, where forecasts suggest more than 100mm of rain could fall during the first half of the week.
Heavy Rainfall Shifts to Southern Europe and Beyond
Meteorological analysis indicates that some of the heaviest precipitation will later transfer to southern Italy and western regions of Greece and Turkey as the week progresses. This pattern underscores a broader trend of volatile and extreme weather conditions affecting multiple continents simultaneously.
Severe Weather Threats Extend to Southern Africa
High rainfall totals are also expected across parts of South Africa and Lesotho this week. By Saturday, provinces including Free State, KwaZulu Natal, and Eastern Cape in South Africa could experience fairly widespread rainfall totals of 80-100mm. This will result from heavy showers or thunderstorms, with daily rainfall potentially reaching 50mm in areas where storms are particularly intense.
The South African Weather Service has already issued warnings and advisories for severe thunderstorms through the first half of this week. These storms carry significant risks, including excessive lightning, gusty winds, and hail. Consequently, flooding, mudslides, and infrastructure damage are expected, potentially affecting more than 10 million people across the region.
Unusually Cold Weather Grips East Asia
Meanwhile, Japan and Korea continued to experience exceptionally cold weather last week, with temperatures remaining substantially below seasonal averages. The cold spell peaked over the weekend, with temperatures in Tokyo falling to almost 10 degrees Celsius below average on Sunday. The mercury struggled to rise above zero, accompanied by snowfall in the Japanese capital.
Although Tokyo sits on a similar latitude to the most northern parts of Africa and Athens, snowfall is not entirely uncommon, occurring on average about once or twice annually. This phenomenon is attributed to Japan's geographical position, which places it between a cold northerly flow from continental eastern Asia and a moisture supply from both the Sea of Japan to the north and the Philippine Sea to the south.
Western areas of Japan typically receive the most significant snowfall, and this event proved no exception. The Hokuriku region recorded more than 50cm of snow within a 24-hour period. Forecasts suggest temperatures are expected to rise rapidly later this week, potentially reaching the mid to high teens in Tokyo by the weekend.
The concurrent extreme weather events across Europe, Africa, and Asia highlight the increasing frequency and intensity of meteorological phenomena affecting diverse global regions within short timeframes.
