Spain is one of the most visited countries on the planet, and though we’re now positioned comfortably within shoulder season, visitors are still flocking to its cities and beaches for one last hit of sun.
However, the first storm of the autumn season has battered its shores over the weekend, leading to power cuts, grounded flights, burst river banks, evacuations and, tragically, two fatalities.
It seems the worst of this weather has passed, with conditions set to stabilise throughout this week, but here is everything you need to know about travelling to Spain in the wake of Storm Adam.
Is it safe to travel to Spain right now?
At time of writing, much of Spain is grappling with the consequences of Storm Adam, which has battered large areas of the east and southern coast over the weekend.
Valencia remains under an amber weather warning, released by Spain’s State Meteorological Agency, and alerts of ‘significant danger’ are still in place for parts of Barcelona, Murcia, Ronda, Mallorca, Formenta and Ibiza.
Two people have died – one woman who went swimming at Almardà Beach, and another who was swept away by a swollen stream in Cabrera de Mar – and thousands more have been evacuated, according to The Independent. This is just weeks after two deaths in Catalonia due to a ‘mini hurricane’.
It’s been reported that unprecedented rainfall in areas such as Vernissa and Girona caused rivers to burst their banks.
Juan Carlos Valderrama, regional minister for emergencies, warned residents from Valencia to northern Alicante to exercise extreme caution, according to Sur in English. ‘People must not travel; they must stay at home. There is heavy, continuous rain, which is causing significant flooding in towns such as Pego, Oliva, Piles, and Miramar,’ he said.
Have flights to Spain been cancelled?
Yes. In Ibiza, the island’s airport closed twice, meaning the cancellation of 27 flights and the diversion of 16 more, and lots of people experienced power cuts. Ibiza was temporarily under the highest alert level – red – after 60 litres of rain per square metre fell in one hour.
If you have a flight booked to an affected region soon, check your flight status with your airline directly.
What is the latest government travel advice?
The UK’s FCDO is yet to update its travel advice page in light of floods, but it does have a section on such disasters which reads: ‘Flash flooding can cause travel disruption and damage to property and infrastructure. Check weather warnings from Spain’s meteorological office (AEMET) before travel and follow the advice of the local authorities.’
Can I get a refund if I cancel my trip?
As travelling to Spain has not been advised against, it’s unlikely. However, if you have plans to travel to an affected area, speak to your travel and accommodation providers directly, as well as your insurance provider, to find out more information.
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