Europe's Fury: Storm Leonardo Brings Torrential Rain and Widespread Disruption
A slow-moving storm system has wreaked havoc on parts of Europe, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Storm Leonardo, which has been battering Spain and Portugal since Tuesday, has brought severe weather alerts to the Iberian peninsula, with torrential rain and strong winds causing widespread disruption.
The full force of the storm was evident in Grazalema, southern Spain, where over 700mm of rain had fallen since Wednesday – roughly equivalent to the country's average annual rainfall. The region has been severely affected, with more than 3,500 people evacuated, roads closed, and transport networks disrupted. In Málaga province, a girl was reported missing after being swept away by the Turvilla river, with emergency services continuing search efforts.
The situation is not unique to Spain; Portugal has also been badly hit, still recovering from Storm Kristin, which claimed at least five lives last week. Fresh downpours have triggered flooding, landslides, and falling trees, forcing over 200 people to evacuate. The country's southern Alentejo region was particularly hard hit, with another death reported after a man's car was washed away by floodwaters.
But Storm Leonardo's impact extends beyond Europe; it has also affected northern Morocco, where flash floods have caused an estimated 100,000 people to flee their homes. The city of Ksar El-Kebir in the Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region is among the worst-affected areas, struggling with overflowing rivers and reservoirs.
The storm's trajectory has been influenced by an unusually southward-shifted jet stream, allowing Leonardo to intensify and stall over the region. The system has also merged with an "atmospheric river" carrying tropical moisture from the Caribbean, continually replenishing the rainfall. With soils already saturated and rivers swollen after weeks of wet weather, the risk of further flooding and landslides remains high.
Storms are expected to linger near the north-west of the Iberian peninsula into early next week, bringing continued unsettled conditions. Northern and central Portugal can expect an additional 150-250mm of rain by the end of the week.
In contrast, a different storm system has emerged in the Philippine Sea, where Tropical Storm Penha developed from an area of low pressure late on Tuesday. The system has brought wind gusts of up to 45mph before making landfall in Surigao del Sur, with storm surges of up to two metres expected across coastal areas. Warnings for heavy rainfall have been issued inland, with 200-300mm of rain forecast within 24 hours.
As Storm Penha moves westwards towards Mindanao and Negros island, it is expected to weaken before dissipating near Palawan island. The storm's impact serves as a reminder of the destructive power of severe weather systems, highlighting the importance of monitoring and preparedness in regions vulnerable to extreme weather events.
A slow-moving storm system has wreaked havoc on parts of Europe, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Storm Leonardo, which has been battering Spain and Portugal since Tuesday, has brought severe weather alerts to the Iberian peninsula, with torrential rain and strong winds causing widespread disruption.
The full force of the storm was evident in Grazalema, southern Spain, where over 700mm of rain had fallen since Wednesday – roughly equivalent to the country's average annual rainfall. The region has been severely affected, with more than 3,500 people evacuated, roads closed, and transport networks disrupted. In Málaga province, a girl was reported missing after being swept away by the Turvilla river, with emergency services continuing search efforts.
The situation is not unique to Spain; Portugal has also been badly hit, still recovering from Storm Kristin, which claimed at least five lives last week. Fresh downpours have triggered flooding, landslides, and falling trees, forcing over 200 people to evacuate. The country's southern Alentejo region was particularly hard hit, with another death reported after a man's car was washed away by floodwaters.
But Storm Leonardo's impact extends beyond Europe; it has also affected northern Morocco, where flash floods have caused an estimated 100,000 people to flee their homes. The city of Ksar El-Kebir in the Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region is among the worst-affected areas, struggling with overflowing rivers and reservoirs.
The storm's trajectory has been influenced by an unusually southward-shifted jet stream, allowing Leonardo to intensify and stall over the region. The system has also merged with an "atmospheric river" carrying tropical moisture from the Caribbean, continually replenishing the rainfall. With soils already saturated and rivers swollen after weeks of wet weather, the risk of further flooding and landslides remains high.
Storms are expected to linger near the north-west of the Iberian peninsula into early next week, bringing continued unsettled conditions. Northern and central Portugal can expect an additional 150-250mm of rain by the end of the week.
In contrast, a different storm system has emerged in the Philippine Sea, where Tropical Storm Penha developed from an area of low pressure late on Tuesday. The system has brought wind gusts of up to 45mph before making landfall in Surigao del Sur, with storm surges of up to two metres expected across coastal areas. Warnings for heavy rainfall have been issued inland, with 200-300mm of rain forecast within 24 hours.
As Storm Penha moves westwards towards Mindanao and Negros island, it is expected to weaken before dissipating near Palawan island. The storm's impact serves as a reminder of the destructive power of severe weather systems, highlighting the importance of monitoring and preparedness in regions vulnerable to extreme weather events.
. I mean, think about it, 700mm of rain in just a few days? That's like, crazy! And it's not just Spain and Portugal getting hit, northern Morocco too? It's like the storm system is being manipulated or something 
. The jet stream thingy they mentioned? That sounds like some kind of geoengineering to me 
. I'm not saying it's definitely that, but you never know what's really going on behind the scenes. And have you noticed how all these storms are popping up in different parts of the world at the same time? It's like the weather is trying to tell us something 
. Mark my words, this storm season is not just a coincidence...
700mm of rain is just crazy! I'm not surprised they're talking about evacuations and roads being closed tho. It's like the storm system just wouldn't quit 
. And poor Portugal, still dealing with Storm Kristin just last week. I feel for them 
.
. Like, our weather is getting more unpredictable by the day! And that atmospheric river thingy from the Caribbean? Yeah, that's a whole new level of crazy 
.
. It's so interesting to see how they form and evolve. And I love how the scientists are studying this stuff to warn us about the dangers of extreme weather 
. We need to be prepared, for sure! 
IT JUST GOES TO SHOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO STAY INFORMED AND PREPARED WHEN IT COMES TO WEATHER PREDICTIONS. WE SHOULD ALL BE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THE FORECASTS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU LIVE IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING OR LANDSLIDES! 
. The whole situation is so dire, from Spain to Portugal and even Morocco, it's like the storm just doesn't care about any of those places 
. I mean, Europe always talks about its weather being unpredictable, but this is on a whole different level 
. And what's even more concerning is that there are still so many people without power or shelter 
. The news reports say the region was already saturated from previous rain, so it's like Storm Leonardo just poured even more fuel on the fire 
. We really need to be thinking about how we can help those affected and make sure this kind of thing never happens again 
! 700mm of rain in one spot? That's wild 
. The merge with an atmospheric river is like a recipe for disaster 
. And the fact that 100k people in Morocco are forced to flee their homes? That's heartbreaking 
. The storm may have weakened by now but it's still important for us to stay alert & prepared, especially during these harsh weather conditions 
. We should always respect the power of nature 
. #StormLeonardo #WeatherAlerts #DisasterRelief
. Spain is flooded like it was underwater 
, 700mm of rain that's just insane 
and more expected to flood out 
. And Morocco is getting hit too 
...
. And can't believe another storm is already brewing up in the Philippines, like they're never done 
We need to consider the impact of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions on the environment and how they contribute to extreme weather events 
.
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. I mean, think about it - Europe is always getting hit by these massive storms right when it's supposed to be nice and sunny. It's like someone's trying to distract us from something 
.
The merge of this storm system with an "atmospheric river" carrying tropical moisture from the Caribbean is a reminder that our global climate is interconnected in ways we're still trying to understand.
One minute it's all doom and gloom, next thing you know, it's rainbows and sunshine (or at least, less intense storms). 
. I mean, I get it, weather is unpredictable and all that, but can't these storms just give each other some space for once?! 
. Let's hope the weather gods calm down soon 
!
. And it's not just Europe, Morocco too is getting hit hard with flash floods that's forcing people 2 flee their homes 
. And let's not forget about those in the Philippines who are dealing with another storm system, Storm Penha 
. Storms are just a reminder that we're all stuck on this tiny rock, fighting against nature's fury. And don't even get me started on the article itself – who uses 700mm of rain to describe a downpour? Like, what's next? "The coffee was scalding hot" or something 
.
