Spain: Orange Alert for Strong Winds & High Waves – Balearic Islands, Catalonia & Valencia

A woman died in Barcelona on Thursday after a ceiling collapsed, as Spain’s meteorological agency, AEMET, announced the arrival of Storm Oriana, bringing strong winds, heavy rainfall and high waves to much of the country. The incident in Barcelona occurred during the victim’s work break, according to Catalan regional counselor Sílvia Paneque.

AEMET has issued orange alerts for Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and the Valencian Community due to the anticipated impacts of the storm. Red alerts, indicating the highest level of risk, are in effect for Castellón province in the Valencian Community, forecasting winds up to 140 km/h in exposed coastal areas. Ten autonomous communities across Spain are currently under either orange or yellow alerts as of Friday afternoon.

Storm Oriana is the ninth major storm to impact Spain this season. The storm is expected to continue to bring disruptive weather conditions through the weekend, with heavy rainfall and strong gusts of wind, particularly along the Mediterranean coast, in the north of the country, and in the Balearic Islands. A significant improvement in conditions is forecast for Sunday afternoon, with decreasing winds and rainfall, and the emergence of clearer skies. Temperatures are expected to begin rising as the storm subsides.

Andalusia, the Valencian Community, Catalonia, and Galicia are among the regions most affected by the storm. Agricultural damage in Andalusia is reported to be significant, with Minister Planas estimating that approximately 14,000 hectares have been impacted. The government has outlined three key areas of focus in response to the storm’s effects.

Educational activities in Catalonia resumed on Friday. In other regions, the storm continues to cause disruption, with warnings of strong waves and heavy precipitation in Galicia and the northern areas of the country. Canary Islands are experiencing trade winds, though their intensity is expected to diminish towards the weekend, bringing clouds and occasional light rain to the northern slopes of the islands, while the south remains clearer.

AEMET forecasts colder temperatures overnight on Thursday, with temperatures dropping below 5 degrees Celsius in Teruel, Cuenca, and Vitoria, and reaching as low as 2 degrees Celsius in Soria. Daytime temperatures are expected to be higher, exceeding 28 degrees Celsius in southern Galicia and reaching 30 degrees Celsius in the Guadalquivir Valley.