Parts of Spain and Portugal have been hit by torrential rain and flooding following the arrival of Storm Leonardo this week.
Spain’s national meteorological agency, AEMET, has issued orange and red weather alerts across parts of Andalucía, including Cádiz and sections of the Costa del Sol, warning of intense rainfall, strong winds and a high risk of flooding.
In the Ronda mountain range near Malaga, forecasters say 150mm of rain could fall within 12 hours on Wednesday, with the rest of the Costa del Sol under an orange alert.
According to news agency Reuters, the Andalusian regional government has urged residents to avoid non-essential travel. Day centres for the elderly and disabled have been closed, and around 3,000 people have been evacuated from areas most at risk.
In Portugal, heavy rain and strong winds are also forecast to affect regions including the Lower Alentejo and the Algarve from today. Coastal areas of central Portugal could see wind gusts up to 75 kmph.
Currently, airports in Spain and Portugal appear to be unaffected by the weather.
Pictured, a stock photo of Cádiz on a stormy day
