Footage shared on social media has captured the striking sight of large waterspouts swirling off the coast of a popular tourist destination.
Southern Spain experienced flash floods due to intense storms ahead of the summer holidays, leading to flooding in parts of Murcia. Torrential rain caused roads to flood, with cars seen floating in deep water as heavy downpours hit the area.
Offshore, several marine tornadoes were observed, with witnesses reporting the presence of at least three waterspouts. These vortexes extended from ominous storm clouds towards the Mediterranean Sea, according to reports from The Sun.
A waterspout is a spinning column of air that forms over water, capable of producing destructive wind gusts reaching speeds of up to 250 km/h.
Spain’s meteorological agency, AEMET, issued severe weather alerts for Campo de Cartagena, with a yellow warning for thunderstorms, potential hail, and strong winds. An orange alert remained in place for heavy rainfall, with forecasts predicting up to 40mm of rain per hour.
The inclement weather is part of a broader storm system affecting eastern and southern regions of Spain following a period of warm weather. Meteorologists have cautioned about heavy rains, electrical storms, and rapidly changing conditions in the area.
These severe weather conditions come after fatal storms struck Spain in March, resulting in over 250 liters of rain per square meter in some areas, leading to dangerous river levels.
Earlier this year, Storm Leonardo caused train cancellations, school closures, and mass evacuations after dumping more than 15 inches of rain in 24 hours. In Portugal, Storm Leonardo also claimed a life and forced thousands from their homes.