Early data from the Valencian Association of Meteorologists (Avamet) confirms that the storm has already delivered substantial rainfall to the Costa Blanca. Javea recorded 103.6 litres per square metre in the 12 hours leading up to Sunday morning. Neighbouring towns also reported heavy precipitation, with Gata de Gorgos at 81 litres, Denia at 72.4 litres, and Torrent at 72.6 litres. Areas previously devastated by the October 2024 floods, including Albal, Massanassa, and Aldaia, each recorded more than 56 litres. While AEMET’s initial forecasts cited a maximum of 300 millimetres, updated projections indicate that torrential downpours of 300 to 400 litres per square metre are possible along the coast and just inland in south Valencia and north Alicante.
Emergency authorities have escalated response measures in response to the escalating threat. The Generalitat Valenciana has sent ES-Alert messages directly to mobile phones in red and orange alert zones, advising residents and visitors to avoid unnecessary travel and stay away from flood-prone areas such as dry riverbeds and ravines. Valencia city has implemented additional precautions, including the closure of parks, gardens, and selected public facilities, while some outdoor events have been cancelled. The most dangerous period is expected on Sunday, with significant rainfall potentially continuing into Monday, October 19.
The storm system is interacting with moisture-laden easterly winds, a combination AEMET warns could produce prolonged and intense downpours. Although the exact distribution of the heaviest rain remains uncertain, the scientific consensus is that the convergence of the DANA and maritime moisture creates high-risk conditions for rapid flooding. In a separate incident related to the broader storm system, a funnel cloud formed over Alicante city at approximately 6:30 pm on Saturday. The University of Alicante’s climatology lab confirmed that the funnel did not touch the ground, meaning it did not constitute a tornado and caused no damage, though the associated storm dumped between 40 and 42 litres of rain on southern neighbourhoods.
The impact of DANA Adam extends beyond the Valencian Community. In Catalonia, firefighters handled 89 callouts between 2 pm and midnight on Saturday, mostly in the Barcelona metropolitan area, including evacuations from a flooded house in Sant Esteve Sesrovires and assistance for motorists on the A-2 highway. A search is underway for a person who fell into a stream in Cabrera de Mar. In Almería, the storm caused dozens of incidents and flooded streets in El Ejido. Looking ahead, orange alerts are in place for parts of Andalusia, the Balearic Islands, Castilla-La Mancha, Catalonia, and Murcia on Sunday, with yellow alerts for Ceuta, Melilla, and Galicia. Ibiza and Formentera also face a risk of more than 300 litres of rain in 24 hours, accompanied by rough seas with waves up to four metres.
