Spain's State Meteorological Agency activated yellow weather warnings for both high temperatures and heavy rainfall across Andalusia on Monday, August 17.
The official forecasting body, Aemet, issued alerts for rainfall in the provinces of Cádiz, Córdoba, Huelva, Málaga, and Jaén. At the same time, high temperature alerts were put in place for Almería, Córdoba, Granada, Jaén, and Sevilla.
The weather updates were published on Aemet's official website and reported by Spanish news agency Europa Press.
Aemet is Spain's national meteorological service, responsible for issuing official weather forecasts and public risk alerts across the country. Under the agency's warning system, a yellow alert signifies a moderate weather risk where local activities may be affected by severe conditions.
Rainfall and storm warnings across southern provinces
In Cádiz province, Aemet activated a yellow warning for rain and storms in Grazalema and the Cádiz countryside. The warning was set from 12:00 to 20:00, with an expected accumulated rainfall of 15 litres per square metre within a single hour.
A similar alert was established for the Ronda area in Málaga province, where yellow warnings for rain and storms were scheduled from 12:00 to 20:00. Forecasters expected accumulated rainfall of 15 litres per square metre in an hour, with storms potentially accompanied by heavy showers and very strong wind gusts.
In Huelva province, a storm warning was designated for the Aracena area between 16:00 and 03:00. Aemet stated that the precipitation in Aracena could also be accompanied by heavy downpours and very strong wind gusts.
Grazalema and Ronda are situated in mountainous terrain in southern Spain that often experiences localized weather shifts. The Sierra de Grazalema is recognized as one of the wettest mountain ranges in the Iberian Peninsula despite its location in warm southern Spain.
Sweltering temperatures in interior river valleys
In Córdoba province, severe weather was split between heat and storm warnings. The Sierra and Pedroches region was assigned a yellow storm warning from 14:00 to 22:00, as well as a yellow heat warning from 13:00 to 21:00 with maximum temperatures of 39 degrees Celsius. The countryside and Subbética regions of Córdoba were also placed under yellow heat alerts from 13:00 to 21:00, with maximums reaching up to 39C.
Jaén province faced a dual alert system as well. Yellow storm warnings were set from 14:00 to 22:00 in Morena and Condado, Cazorla and Segura, the Capital and Montes de Jaén, and the Guadalquivir Valley, bringing heavy showers and very strong wind gusts. Simultaneously, heat warnings applied to the Guadalquivir Valley, Morena and Condado, and Cazorla and Segura between 13:00 and 21:00, with peak temperatures between 38C and 39C.
High temperatures were also forecast for the countryside of Seville and the Genil Basin in Granada. Both areas were placed under yellow heat warnings from 13:00 to 21:00, with maximum temperatures ranging between 38C and 39C.
The Guadalquivir River basin, which runs through Jaén, Córdoba, and Seville, is traditionally one of mainland Europe's hottest zones during peak summer. High atmospheric pressure combined with terrain geography creates intense thermal conditions, while surrounding mountain ranges like Sierra Morena and Cazorla can trigger summer thunderstorms when heat meets moist air masses.
