Spain is ‘full like a sponge’ and under extreme flood risk as up to 500mm of rain is forecast: Is your area in the ‘purple’ danger zone?

SPAIN is facing a critical week of weather as experts warn the country is ‘saturated’ and unable to absorb the deluge of water heading its way.

Meteorologists have described the ground across the Iberian Peninsula as being ‘full like a sponge’ following weeks of relentless storms.

Now, a new ‘atmospheric river’ – a massive band of concentrated moisture stretching from the Caribbean – is dumping fresh rainfall on top of the sodden earth.

READ MORE Red alert in Andalucia for ‘off the charts’ Storm Leonardo: Flood warnings as ‘river in the sky’ set to dump 200mm of rain in 24 hours

The result is an ‘extreme’ risk of flooding, with water having nowhere to go but over the surface.

The forecasts that are most alarming are those for the northwest, which includes Galicia and portions of Portugal.

Forecasters have warned up to 500mm additional rain may fall between now, and mid-February.

This sheer volume of water on top of already waterlogged soil has triggered warnings of ‘severe’ flash flooding.

The danger is spreading southwards to Andalucia where the situation becomes more precarious.

The saturated ground could have just as much of an impact, even though the numbers may be lower.

The Serrania de Ronda in Malaga and Campo de Gibraltar, in Cadiz, are expecting 100-200mm of rain over the next few days.

Costa del Sol also is under constant surveillance. Riverbeds can turn into torrents within minutes.

READ MOREAs new Atlantic storms sweep across Spain, these are the areas that will be affected.

Dramatic maps released by the Global Flood Awareness System (GloFAS) show large swathes of these regions painted in purple – the colour denoting the highest possible risk level.

According to meteorologists, these purple lines indicate a ‘very high or extreme risk’ where river banks are highly likely to burst.

The purple ‘extreme risk’ zone encompasses vast stretches of the region, including the popular expat hubs of the Serrania de Ronda, the Campo de Gibraltar, and the historic Guadalquivir valley cities of Sevilla and Cordoba.

This includes the strongholds in the interior of Ronda, Antequera and the riverside villages of Arcos de la Frontera. Ecija and Andujar are also included, as well the sherry triangle hubs at Jerez de la Frontera & Sanlucar de Barrameda.

Andalucia is not only facing a complex water crisis on the coast but also in the region.

READ MORE Watch: Storm Kristin chaos: hurricane force winds flip lorries over, flood towns and tear roofs off of schools. Red alerts are issued.

The warning covers significant portions of the Guadalquivir basin, where managing the rivers has become a minute-by-minute ‘engineering battle’.

Reservoirs are usually used to protect against flooding. However, they are nearing their capacity.

Hydrology experts explain that dams typically keep an empty ‘safety buffer’ to catch floodwaters.

READ MORESewage storm: Foreigners outraged after heavy rains force human waste on to their street

The levels may have risen so high that technicians will be forced to open the spillways, which could release more water in riverbeds already swollen.

Over 60 reservoirs are managed in the Guadalquivir System alone to avoid disaster.

Civil Protection authorities are urging residents in the ‘purple’ and ‘red’ zones to exercise extreme caution.

Avoid low-lying area, do not drive in floodwater and stay away form riverbanks.

The Olive Press provides weather updates.