Southeastern European Nations Face Elevated Flooding Danger Owing to Rainy Weather
Although storms and typhoons have raged in the Atlantic and Pacific east, Europe has faced intense conditions of its own. A low-pressure system that developed over the Mediterranean midweek moved towards the northeast into the Balkan region on Thursday, bringing extensive downpours, thunderstorms and prolonged precipitation.
Persistent Rainfall and Serious Alerts
This weather pattern is forecast to continue into Friday, with models suggesting 48-hour totals of 80-130mm of precipitation across a large part of the Balkan Peninsula. Severe weather alerts were activated for Serbia, southwestern Romania, north-east Greece, and the Dodecanese and North Aegean Islands, highlighting the threat of floods and risk to human safety. Strong winds also shut down classes on Zakynthos in the Ionian archipelago.
Chilly Air Adds Harshness
Chilly air masses drawn in from eastern Europe worsened the seriousness, producing significant snowfalls across the Alpine region, with certain forecasts forecasting accumulations of up to 80cm by the coming weekend.
Recent Inundation in Spanish Regions
Previously, eastern Spain and the Balearic archipelago experienced severe inundation as the leftovers of the former hurricane moved across the Iberian region before slowing over the Balearic waters. The city of Valencia and the island of Ibiza were most impacted; Gandia registered 356.8mm in a 12-hour period – more than 10 times its typical September rainfall, while the island had 254mm in 24 hours, its wettest day since at least the mid-20th century.
Highways, train stations, public parks, and schools were obliged to cease operations, while a rain gauge near the area of Aldaia registered over two inches in just 35 minutes, leading to the local ravine to burst its banks. These inundations come nearly one year after devastating flooding in the region in 2024 that caused the death of more than 230 people.
Typhoon Bualoi Impacts Vietnam
Typhoon Bualoi made landfall across the central part of Vietnam this week, causing heavy rain, powerful gusts, and massive ocean waves. Over 300 millimeters of precipitation was observed within a single day on the start of the week, causing flash floods and rock slides that blocked more than 3,000 roads and stranded communities across the northern regions. Dozens of flights were disrupted or postponed, and train operations between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City were stopped.
Officials confirmed 36 lives lost and 147 casualties, with 21 people still unaccounted for. Over 210,000 homes were harmed or submerged, with over 51,000 hectares of farmland ruined. Vietnam’s government has assessed that Bualoi has resulted in more than $350m in economic losses this week.
