Spain issues orange storm alerts as DANA brings heavy rain, hail and strong winds

A high‑altitude isolated depression (DANA) positioned west of the Iberian Peninsula has triggered a series of orange and yellow weather alerts across north‑west Spain. The regional government of Galicia activated an orange alert for storms and heavy rain in the province of A Coruña, while the national meteorological agency AEMET issued yellow and orange warnings for thunderstorms, hail and strong gusts in Palencia, the Cantabrian coast, Asturias, the Basque Country, Castile‑La Mancha and other autonomous communities.

The alerts warn of localized precipitation up to 30 liters per square metre in an hour, hailstones up to 2 cm in diameter and wind gusts reaching 80–90 km/h. In Galicia, 5,764 lightning strikes were recorded during the Saturday‑Sunday storm, causing temporary interruptions to outdoor festivals. AEMET also noted a sharp thermal contrast, with heat alerts in the east and northeast of the country while temperatures fell markedly in Galicia and western Castile and León.

Overall, twelve autonomous regions are under orange or yellow alerts for storms, rain, hail, and high temperatures, prompting authorities to advise caution on roads, avoid flooded areas and refrain from parking near riverbanks.