Storm Regina Brings Wet March, ‘Blood Rain’ to Spain
Madrid, Spain – Spain is bracing for a wet March as Storm Regina sweeps across the country, bringing strong winds, heavy rainfall, and a phenomenon known as “blood rain” due to dust carried from North Africa. The storm marks a shift in weather patterns after a period of relative calm.
The presence of Storm Regina over North Africa is drawing airborne dust towards the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands, according to Spain’s state weather agency, Aemet. This dust, known as calima, will mix with rainfall, resulting in muddy precipitation often referred to as “blood rain” by local media.
Aemet has issued alerts – yellow and orange levels – for coastal areas, winds, rain, storms, and snowfall. Over 50 liters of rainfall per square meter are forecast in several regions including Andalusia, the Valencia region, Castilla-La Mancha, Murcia, Madrid, Aragón, and Catalonia.
As of Wednesday, Storm Regina is expected to move towards northern Morocco, bringing heavy rainfall and stormy conditions to Andalusia, Murcia, southern Extremadura, and southern Castile-La Mancha. The Valencian Community will likely experience rain, particularly in pre-coastal areas and the southern province of Valencia. Showers are also continuing in the north of the Canary Islands.
On Thursday, the storm’s center is predicted to be located in northern Algeria, expanding rainfall to the eastern half of the peninsula and the Balearic Islands, with heavier downpours expected in Castellón and southern Catalonia. A separate front moving in from the Atlantic will bring rain to Galicia and the eastern Cantabrian coast.
While the exact path of Storm Regina remains uncertain as of Friday, state broadcaster RTVE reports that widespread rain is likely to continue across much of the country, including the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands.
Aemet warned citizens via social media on March 3rd, outlining the expected impacts and providing a link to updated information.
03/03 11:24 AVISOS HOY Y MAÑANA | España: costeros, vientos, lluvias, tormentas y nevadas. Nivel máximo de aviso: naranja.
Actualizaciones en https://t.co/BLdoSsO2Qv pic.twitter.com/n0cSMCjTs0
The approaching storm follows reports of similar weather patterns across Europe, with an “intense” Saharan dust storm also expected to bring hazy skies to the continent this week.
