Arab Weather: Scientific reasons behind the massive floods in Spain and the effects of the surrounding weather systems

Arab Weather - Scientific analyses at Arab Weather indicate that the severe floods that recently swept Spain were the result of a series of complex weather systems that came together in an unusual way over the region. A huge high pressure system covering large areas of central and western Europe caused a cold upper trough to separate from the general jet stream circulation, forming a closed low pressure system that settled between Spain and Morocco, rotating around itself in its location.

Warm winds rush towards the center of the depression

These weather conditions caused the low pressure system to push warm winds coming from northwest Africa towards its center, due to the reverse circulation of the winds around the center of the low pressure system. This led to an increase in temperatures in the low pressure area and an increase in temperature differences, which greatly enhanced the instability of the atmosphere and created suitable conditions for significant weather developments in the weather system.

Huge amounts of tropical moisture flow towards the center of the depression

These conditions coincided with an influx of tropical moisture coming from the south, which resulted in the formation of high-altitude cumulonimbus clouds, accompanied by intense thunderstorm activity and heavy rainfall. The warming of the Mediterranean Sea at this time of year has enhanced evaporation processes, which has further fed the low pressure system with additional amounts of moisture, and contributed to the escalation of the continuous rainfall.

In addition to these effects, the surrounding weather systems, such as the extension of the tropical high in some periods, led to the depression being confined to its location for a longer period than usual. This relative stability of the depression caused rainfall to continue over the same areas for long periods, which exacerbated the severity of flooding and greatly affected infrastructure and agricultural crops.

And God knows best.