Tourists in Spain were warned yesterday of an “extreme risk to life” as Storm Kirk hit the country with winds exceeding 200 km/h – and more storms are still expected.
National weather agency AEMET has improved its warnings in many northern regions Spain to red alert, where hurricane-force winds led to landslides, flash floods and many canceled or diverted flights.
Oviedo and Gijon, located on Spain’s northern peninsula facing the Atlantic Sea, were placed under maximum alert for strong winds of 84 mph (140 km/h).
AEMET reduced its storm warnings to yellow for Thursday and Friday, but winds are expected to hit the Atlantic coast again on Saturday with an orange alert.
On Friday, western Galicia and Atlantic Andalusia could once again be victims of more persistent rains and thunderstorms, and heavy showers could fall on the Catalan coasts.
Saturday’s orange alert could bring heavy rain and storms along the Atlantic coast in the northeast of the country, extending to the Pyrenees, as well as Atlantic Andalusia in the south.
The Canary Islands could also see rainfall in the north, while other regions are not ‘ruled out’.
Authorities have advised tourists and residents to avoid unnecessary travel and take extreme precautions, especially on the roads.