Photo Source: Chris F
Heavy rains overwhelmed Valencia on November 4, flooding the streets and turning neighbourhoods into rivers. The storm, which had begun earlier in the week, brought the equivalent of an entire year’s worth of rainfall in just eight hours.
Severe flooding also affected other parts of eastern Spain, including the province of Huelva, where at least 200 people were reported dead. In response to the disaster, authorities in Huelva issued a red alert for continued severe weather as rescue teams worked to reach those trapped by the rising waters.
A Dire Warning from the WMO Just Days Before
Just days before the storm hit, the UN’s World Meteorological Organization (WMO) issued a warning about the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, such as the flooding in Spain, driven by climate change..
On November 3, WMO spokesperson Clare Nullis pointed to research from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which shows that rising global temperatures allow the atmosphere to hold more moisture, intensifying rainfall and increasing the risk of flooding.
“As the air warms, it becomes more moist. Every additional fraction of warming increases the atmospheric moisture content, which raises the risk of extreme precipitation and flooding,” Nullis explained.
Emergency Response Under Pressure
Despite early warnings from AEMET, Spain’s meteorological agency, the extreme volume of rainfall quickly overwhelmed communities, triggering widespread flooding.
On November 4, emergency teams scrambled to respond. In Huelva, where the worst flooding occurred, red alerts were issued, and rescue teams used boats and helicopters to evacuate stranded residents. Some were seen clinging to rooftops, while first responders described the situation as far beyond what they had trained for.
A Call for Climate Action
The flooding in Spain highlighted the urgent need for stronger global action on climate change. The WMO’s November 3 warning was accompanied by a call to cut greenhouse gas emissions and improve disaster preparedness.
The disaster in Spain highlight the critical need for global cooperation on climate action. At COP29, which will take place from November 11 to 22, 2024, at Baku Stadium, the WMO’s “State of the Global Climate” report will be presented, documenting the growing frequency and severity of extreme weather events worldwide.