Spain is hit by storm Leonardo, as flooding closes 100+ roads in the country and forces evacuations

As many parts of Spain began to dry up, the arrival of Storm Leonardo brought a new wave of disruption. Heavy rain, flooding and landslides are once again causing serious travel problems, particularly in Andalucía, where emergency services are dealing with road closures and precautionary evacuations.

According to the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT), more than 118 roads are currently closed across the country, most of them secondary routes. Andalucía accounts for the majority of those closures, with every province affected except Almería.

The message to drivers is clear: Check the live DGT traffic map Before you leave, check the conditions as they can change at any time.

Widespread disruption caused by landslides and floods

The storm brought heavy rains to the Iberian Peninsula. This overwhelmed drainage systems, causing rivers and streams to swell. In many areas, saturated soil has caused landslides. Authorities have been forced to close roads in a hurry.

Even though only two of these closed roads are part of Spain’s main highway network, their impact is still considerable. The majority of the routes affected are local connections, which people depend on to travel every day. This is especially true in rural areas.

Snowfall has caused less disruption than earlier in the week. Only 42 roads are still covered by snow, a decrease from previous storms when there were more. Mountain roads remain hazardous, particularly at night, according to officials.

Train services suspended: Thousands of people evacuated

Storm Leonardo’s impact is not limited to the chaos of travel. It also affects residents directly. More than 3,500 people have been evacuated from their homes in Andalucía as a precaution, mainly in flood-prone zones.

There are also major problems for passengers on trains. Renfe has suspended almost all rail services in Andalucía, leaving only a handful of routes operating. The only lines that remain operational are:

• The Madrid–Córdoba high-speed service
• The Jaén–Madrid Media Distancia
• The Málaga Cercanías C1 line

All other rail service in the region remains cancelled until conditions improve.

Another storm is looming, but there’s little relief in sight

Forecasts show that Storm Leonardo’s strength will start to decline on Friday, but there is very little breathing room. Meteorologists have already warned that a second Atlantic storm will arrive on Saturday. This could cause further flooding of already saturated soil.

Authorities continue their call for caution, particularly on secondary highways, and emphasize the importance of obeying official advice. Spain is currently in a stormy situation, with the emergency services overstretched and the transport networks again under pressure.