Storm Charles triggers red alerts and school closures across Spain
Storm Charles prompted red weather alerts in the Canary Islands, Cádiz and Huelva, and a red flood warning on the Tormes river in Salamanca, on Wednesday.
Storm Charles triggered red weather alerts in parts of Spain on Wednesday, closing schools along the Cádiz and Huelva coasts and prompting a red flood alert for the Tormes river in Salamanca province, authorities said.
Andalusia's regional government raised its flood emergency plan to its highest operational level from 8pm on Tuesday, as forecasts for wind in the Cádiz and Huelva coastal areas were revised up from 90km/h to 120km/h, said Antonio Sanz, the region's deputy head and emergencies minister. In-person classes were suspended on Wednesday in coastal municipalities of Cádiz and Huelva and in the Strait of Gibraltar area, including Algeciras, La Línea de la Concepción, San Roque and Tarifa, ElDiario.es and The Olive Press reported.
Spain's national weather agency, AEMET, placed the Canary Island of La Palma under a red alert for "extraordinary danger" from violent winds, while the Costa del Sol and the city of Málaga were put under an orange alert until midnight, The Olive Press reported. AEMET also warned of a 40% to 70% chance of tornadoes or waterspouts off the coasts of Cádiz and Huelva before midnight, with ports in both provinces closed until 10pm and waves forecast up to six metres in the Atlantic.
Inland, Spain's Duero basin authority, the CHD, raised its flood alert to red for the Tormes river at Puente del Congosto in Salamanca province, Europa Press reported. AEMET forecast more than 120 litres of rain per square metre in under 12 hours in parts of Extremadura and western Andalusia, which the agency said could cause flooding and a sharp rise in river and stream levels.
Andalusia's regional emergency coordination centre had logged 195 weather-related incidents since Monday night, with Seville and Cádiz the worst affected, The Olive Press reported. Municipalities under orange wind warnings were ordered to close public parks and gardens, and crossing flooded fords and watercourses was banned, ElDiario.es reported.
Charles is the second major storm to hit Spain in three days, following Storm Bruna, and AEMET said it formed over subtropical waters, making it warmer and more moisture-laden than typical Atlantic storms. The storm was forecast to move north-west towards Portugal and weaken on Thursday, AEMET said.
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What we know
- Official · AEMET Storm Charles triggered a red alert for violent winds on the Canary Island of La Palma and an orange alert for the Costa del Sol and Málaga, The Olive Press reported.
- Official · Junta de Andalucía Schools were closed in coastal municipalities of Cádiz and Huelva and in the Strait of Gibraltar area on Wednesday, ElDiario.es reported.
- Official · CHD (Duero basin authority) Spain's Duero basin authority raised its flood alert to red for the Tormes river at Puente del Congosto in Salamanca province, Europa Press reported.
- Official · Andalusia emergency centre Andalusia's emergency centre has logged 195 weather-related incidents since Monday night, with Seville and Cádiz worst affected.
- Official · Andalusian Ports Agency Ports in Cádiz and Huelva were closed until 10pm, with waves forecast up to six metres in the Atlantic.
How each fact is established: Verified checked by an ECTV editorOfficial stated by an official body2+ outlets reported independently by two or more news organisations1 outlet reported by a single news organisation so farUnconfirmed claimed or reportedHow we label facts
Why it matters for Europe
Charles is the second major storm to strike Spain within three days, arriving on the heels of Storm Bruna, which had already left parts of Andalusia saturated and raised river levels. Its subtropical origin gave it unusually heavy rain and strong winds for November, forcing authorities to close schools, ports and parks across a wide stretch of southern and western Spain at once.
Sources
Reported by 7 reports from 6 independent outlets in 2 countries.
- La Razón: Suspendida la actividad lectiva presencial en los municipios del litoral de Cádiz y Huelva y en los del Estrecho
- ElDiario.es: Andalucía suspende las clases en el litoral de Cádiz y Huelva por el riesgo de fuertes lluvias y viento de la borrasca Charles
- The Olive Press: WATCH: Red alert as Storm Charles batters the Canary Islands and Costa del Sol while schools shut up and down Cadiz coast
- Europa Press: La CHD eleva a nivel rojo la alerta por la crecida del Tormes a su paso por Puente del Congosto (Salamanca)
- EFE: La borrasca Charles golpea España con abundantes lluvias y vientos huracanados en un día muy «adverso»
Source balance
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Questions and answers
- Where did Storm Charles trigger red alerts in Spain?
- On the Canary Island of La Palma for wind, and for flooding on the Tormes river in Salamanca province, authorities said.
- Were schools closed?
- Yes, in-person classes were suspended on Wednesday in coastal municipalities of Cádiz and Huelva and the Strait of Gibraltar area.
- Were there any casualties?
- No casualties were reported in Spain in connection with Storm Charles.
This article was written with AI assistance from 8 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.