The Iberian Peninsula is experiencing a tense and highly alert situation as both Spain and Portugal prepare for the impact of Storm Leonardo , which threatens the region with exceptional weather hazards. Authorities in both countries have swiftly implemented precautionary measures, including closing schools in southern Spain and raising alert levels, in an effort to avoid a repeat of the natural disasters that have recently struck the region.
Spain declares red alert and closes schools
In a preemptive move, the Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET) issued its highest level of warning, declaring a "red alert" for Wednesday in specific areas of the southern region of Andalusia, particularly in the districts of Ronda and Grazalema. The agency strongly warned of the "exceptional risks" that Storm Leonardo could bring, including the potential for flash floods and landslides that could pose a real threat to life and property.
In response to these warnings, educational authorities announced the closure of all schools in the Andalusia region on Wednesday, with the exception of those in the easternmost province of Almería. Juanma Moreno, the governor of Andalusia and the official in charge of emergency management in Spain's decentralized system, issued an urgent appeal to residents to exercise extreme caution and prudence, and to avoid unnecessary travel until the storm subsides.
Portugal under the weight of snow and wind
Across the border, the situation appears no less dire in Portugal, where the Portuguese Meteorological Agency (IPMA) has issued an orange alert covering the entire coastline as Storm Leonardo approaches from the Atlantic. The forecast indicates heavy snowfall, accompanied by strong winds and torrential rain, across the northern and central regions of the country, expected to continue until next Saturday.
This new storm adds to Portugal's woes as it continues to recover from a series of devastating storms, the most recent being Storm Christine, which struck the country last week. Christine caused significant loss of life and property, killing five people and injuring nearly 400 others, with the damage concentrated particularly in the central region of Leiria. An additional four people died in separate incidents related to the severe weather.
Economic repercussions and a worrying climate context
These severe weather events are taking a heavy toll on the region's infrastructure and economy. In Portugal, tens of thousands of homes are still without power, prompting the government to approve a massive €2.5 billion (approximately $3 billion) reconstruction plan to repair the damage and upgrade the affected networks.
Scientists and climate experts link this increasing frequency of extreme weather events, such as violent storms and heat waves, to climate change caused by human activity. Experts assert that rising ocean and atmospheric temperatures contribute to the increased intensity and duration of these storms, making coastal areas like the Iberian Peninsula more vulnerable.
Memory of recent disasters
The concerns of residents and authorities come in a difficult psychological context, as the region's memory is still fresh with the scenes of destruction left by the devastating floods in Spain during October 2014. That disaster, the likes of which the country had not seen for decades, claimed the lives of more than 230 people, most of them concentrated in the eastern Valencia region, making the current storm "Leonardo" extremely sensitive and extremely serious in order to avoid any new loss of life.
