Storms leave flooding and disruption across Spain

A 63-year-old woman died in Mallorca as torrential rain causes flooding, cancelled flights and travel disruption across the Mediterranean

After a week that began with intense heat, Spain has seen a dramatic change in the weather, with thunderstorms, torrential rain and flooding causing problems across parts of the country.

The biggest impacts were felt in the Mediterranean, particularly in the Balearic Islands, Cataluña and Murcia, the storms have also impacted the Comunidad Valenciana and parts of eastern Andalucía.

Sadly, the weather has also claimed a life in Mallorca, where a 63-year-old woman died after becoming trapped under a vehicle during a sudden rush of floodwater in Felanitx on Wednesday September 9.

She left her home to go to work when she apparently slipped or fell in the street during the downpour. The water was around two palms deep, and the force of the current is believed to have prevented her from getting free. Neighbours found her and raised the alarm. The Guardia Civil is investigating the circumstances surrounding her death.

The severe weather caused plenty of disruption across the Balearic Islands too. Between 10:00am and 4:00pm on Wednesday, the 112 emergency service received 119 incident reports in the Balearic Islands, with 100 of them in Mallorca.

📍 UIB, Mallorca

Més informació: https://t.co/JI2JAiwwQ5 pic.twitter.com/yEiBfYFh8v

— IBMeteo (@ibmeteo) September 9, 2026

Fallen trees and flooding were among the main problems, with 36 incidents involving trees and another 31 relating to flooded buildings, businesses or public roads. The storms also left debris on roads, caused damage to public property and led to some interruptions to basic services.

Rainfall reached almost 50 litres per square metre in some areas, while strong winds added to the problems. Capdepera recorded gusts of 109 km/h, with winds reaching 94 km/h at the University of the Balearic Islands.

Mallorca wasn't the only place to see significant disruption.

In Cataluña, torrential rain led to temporary travel restrictions and the suspension of classes and non-urgent healthcare in five areas. The measures were later lifted as conditions improved, although the Inuncat emergency plan remained active.

Some areas recorded substantial rainfall, including 60.4 litres per square metre in La Quar in Berguedà. The storms also brought a risk of hail, very strong winds and even possible tornadoes in parts of northeastern Cataluña.

⛈️ Les tempestes són localment intenses entre el Berguedà, el Lluçanès, el Ripollès i la Garrotxa, amb acumulacions que en alguns casos ja superen els 50-70 mm. És el cas d'Olot, com veiem en aquestes imatges.

📸 Xavier Vila Coll#Projecte4Estacions
pic.twitter.com/zGQIqmRdJy

— Projecte 4 Estacions (@P4Estacions) September 9, 2026

High-speed rail services between Barcelona and Madrid were interrupted for around two hours after lightning struck a catenary, while around 30 flights were cancelled at Barcelona-El Prat Airport.

Further south, Murcia also had a particularly busy day for the emergency services. The 112 service dealt with 182 incidents following 238 emergency calls, although there were no reports of personal injuries. Most involved problems on public roads, localised flooding, traffic obstructions and vehicles becoming stuck.

The highest rainfall totals included 44 litres per square metre at El Reguerón-El Palmar, 39.3 in Murcia and 33.7 at La Fica. Beniel recorded 25 litres, while Pozo Estrecho received 21.2.

Several roads and access points in the municipality of Murcia had to be closed, while entrances to the river were shut as a precaution because of rising water levels. Emergency crews were also busy in Cartagena, Torre Pacheco and San Javier.

The Comunidad Valenciana was also under weather warnings, with the highest risk along the Alicante coast. The storms followed several days of intense heat across Spain. An Atlantic front moved in through Galicia on Tuesday September 8, before crossing the country, bringing heavy rain to northern areas and eventually reaching the Mediterranean.

The unusually warm Mediterranean has helped fuel the storms, making conditions particularly unstable when the front and an upper-level trough reached the east.

By Thursday September 10, the worst of the instability is expected to ease as the trough moves away. Some showers and thunderstorms could still develop across the Balearic Islands, southern Comunidad Valenciana, Murcia and eastern Andalucía, but they should generally be less intense.

The forecast is then looking considerably calmer for the second half of the week, with temperatures also expected to feel more manageable after the heat and humidity of recent days.

See  also:Spain Weather Forecast September 10-13: Temperatures Set To Climb Again After Stormy Start To The Week

Image 1: Meteorihuela

Image 2: Ayuntamiento Murcia