Severe Storms Bruna and Charles Bring Heavy Rain and High Winds to Spain and Portugal

Portugal and Spain are bracing for deteriorating weather conditions as the region deals with the ongoing effects of storm Bruna and prepares for the impending arrival of a second weather system, depression Charles. Following significant rainfall and disruptions caused by Bruna over the weekend and into the early week, meteorological authorities in both countries have issued widespread warnings for heavy downpours, hurricane-force wind gusts, and dangerously high seas starting Wednesday.

Storm Bruna, an Atlantic weather system, has already dropped substantial amounts of rain across parts of Spain. In the province of Malaga, real-time data from the Hidrosur system recorded up to 42 millimeters of rain in Río Grande by early Monday afternoon, prompting the state weather agency, Aemet, to issue yellow warnings across the entire province. Regional officials activated the pre-emergency stage of the local flood plan due to potential risks in various areas.

The severe weather has hit the Madeira archipelago particularly hard, where storm Bruna caused widespread flooding, forced the cancellation of dozens of flights at Funchal airport over the weekend, left ten people homeless, and triggered a search for one missing person. Ferry services between Madeira and Porto Santo were also canceled by Porto Santo Line to prevent compromising passenger and vessel safety, though the company scheduled extra sailings to accommodate travelers.

Compounding the ongoing weather challenges, a new subtropical system named Charles is moving toward the Iberian Peninsula and neighboring island chains. According to Aemet and the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), Charles is the third named storm of the 2026/2027 European southwest season. The system is expected to significantly worsen conditions in Madeira beginning late Tuesday before sweeping toward mainland Spain and Portugal on Wednesday.

Aemet has activated orange alerts for strong winds and yellow alerts for rough seas and rain starting Wednesday in Lanzarote, La Graciosa, and the rest of the Canary Islands. Forecasters predict wind gusts could reach 90 kilometers per hour, with waves climbing up to four meters. In mainland Portugal and Spain, officials expect gusts to exceed 100 to 120 kilometers per hour, alongside torrential rainfall and coastal waves reaching between four and six meters south of Cabo Carvoeiro.

In light of the approaching severe weather, Civil Protection authorities in Portugal have urged the public to adopt strict preventive measures. Officials recommend avoiding coastal areas, steering clear of flooded roads, securing loose outdoor items such as scaffolding and flowerpots, and exercising heightened caution when traveling through wooded regions due to the risk of falling branches and landslides.

Despite the heavy precipitation and strong winds, temperatures are expected to remain unseasonably high across parts of the region early in the week, influenced by warm, humid winds known as ábregos. However, meteorologists anticipate that temperatures may experience a moderate drop by the weekend as the storm systems finally clear the area.