Spain and Portugal on High Alert Amid Storm Damage

Spain and Portugal face severe storm warnings as intense rainfall and fierce winds ravage the Iberian peninsula. In Catalonia, one person remains in critical condition after being struck by a tree that fell during persistent storms hitting the region over recent weeks. The A1 motorway between northern and southern Portugal collapsed on Wednesday night near Coimbra due to flooding underneath.

In response, authorities have issued red alerts across northern Spain’s Galicia, Cantabria, and Basque regions, where Nils – the eighth storm of 2023 in Spain – arrived. The Spanish Meteorological Agency AEMET warns of waves as high as nine meters (30 feet). Schools were suspended and non-essential healthcare services restricted amid winds gusting over 105 kilometers per hour that toppled trees, disrupting transportation networks.

At least five individuals sustained injuries from the storms in Catalonia, according to Nuria Parlon, head of the interior department. Authorities have urged residents to remain indoors as part of a mobile emergency alert issued by civil protection services.

In Barcelona, at least 40 flights were canceled due to the storm’s impact on El Prat airport. Aena reports that although operations continued under restrictions, further delays and cancellations are anticipated given potential disruptions.

Across Portugal, an atmospheric river—a corridor of concentrated moisture from tropical regions—triggered fresh downpours, primarily affecting northern areas where authorities have evacuated nearly 3,000 residents. The Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) expects widespread rainfall and winds across most of the country on Thursday and Friday.

Infrastructure Minister Miguel Pinto Luz estimates that restoring the A1 motorway segment requiring repairs will take several weeks, pending floodwaters receding. While conditions remained stable in Coimbra overnight, civil protection officials did not deem additional evacuations necessary according to state news agency Lusa sources.