Storms bring 30mm rain per hour to Murcia, causing a flood emergency.

A day after Spain’s heatwave sent temperatures as high as 44 degrees in neighbouring Valencia and Alicante, the Región de Murcia has swapped extreme heat for extreme rain. Emergency services in the region have activated their flood plan due to storms that threaten flash flooding and wildfire risks along the coast.

The Región de Murcia’s Directorate-General for Public Safety and Emergencies activated the INUNMUR flood plan in its pre-emergency phase PLATEMUR is the regional civil defense plan. An orange alert, the second-highest level, is in place for the Altiplano, while a yellow alert covers the Noroeste, Vega del Segura, Valle del Guadalentín, Lorca, Águilas, Campo de Cartagena and Mazarrón. 

Between midday and 10:00pm, storms are expected to strike the affected areas. There is a 40-70 per cent chance that it will rain. Altiplano could experience up to 30 millimetres per hour of rain, while yellow alert zones may see between 15 and 20 millimetres.

What does INUNMUR or PLATEMUR mean in reality?

INUNMUR, Murcia’s civil protection plan, is activated when heavy rain threatens rivers, ramblas, or drainage systems. PLATEMUR, the regional emergency plan, coordinates councils, police officers, and emergency services in an event that requires a coordinated response.

Pre-emergency means that the risk is deemed to be serious enough for resources to be put on standby. However, the situation has not yet been treated as an active emergency. If storms prove to be worse than expected, officials may quickly move into a full-blown emergency.

The danger is heightened by winds of up to 55 km/hr and waves measuring three metres.

Strong winds are forecast for coastal areas, along with waves between two and three metres. This combination increases the danger for those on the water and along the shoreline. Anyone visiting Murcia’s beaches should be aware of local alerts, and check flags to make sure it is safe. 

Emergency services are also urging residents and tourists to avoid unnecessary travel when the storms reach their peak intensity, stay clear of riverbeds and flood-prone areas, and follow official instructions if conditions worsen. 

The risk of wildfires on the coast is high despite rain

AEMET forecasts floods even as the flood plan is activated inland. high risk of forest fire According to emergency services in the region, there was a fire today on Murcia’s east coast. Lightning and rain are both part of storms, but a single strike on tinder-dry plants can ignite a fire.

This contrast illustrates how Spain’s extreme summer weather has become more localised this week. In the same 24 hour period, flood warnings were issued in one part of Murcia while fire danger was declared in another.

The extreme heat of this week has been reversed.

The heat wave of summer has been followed by a change. Valencia and Alicante were under red heat warnings on Wednesday.AEMET recorded highs up to 44°C and a heat-index as high as 56°C in the worst affected spots.

Murcia is also experiencing a sharp drop in temperatures as the same weather system reverses. The forecast high of low 40s will be closer to 37 today, as the storms approach.

Anyone who has plans for today in the region is advised to check AEMET’s forecasts. The weather conditions have changed twice within a single week.