Débora Dias

Between February 3-5, an “atmospheric river” will affect the Iberian Peninsula and parts of North Africa. Here are some important details 👇 The term “atmospheric river” is self-explanatory. These are narrow but long bands (rivers) of concentrated water vapor in the atmosphere. They’re very common, and Europe (including Iberia) is affected by these conveyer belts of moisture every year. The amount of moisture that these rivers carry, their duration, and length can all vary… and those are just some of the factors that dictate their possible impact. Unfortunately, as I’ve mentioned in recent posts, Iberia and northwestern Africa are extremely saturated due to relentless Atlantic storms. Those affected by violent Storm #Kristin may face setbacks in cleanup efforts due to further waves of dangerous weather. Just within February 3-5, this atmospheric river will lead to widespread heavy/persistent rainfall for nearly all of Portugal, western/southern Spain, and northern Morocco. This is not to mention the next atmospheric river arriving between February 7-8. The situation: Waterlogged soil/swollen rivers + prolonged atmospheric river extending from the Caribbean Sea to Portugal leading to an additional 100-200+ mm of rainfall widely leads to a worsening flood threat, not to mention further rainfall after. There will be periods of strong winds as well. Over 200 mm is possible in southern Spain and northern Morocco where precipitation rates could be highest, in fact Red Warnings have been issued in parts of southern Spain for Wednesday in anticipation of extreme rainfall. Be sure to follow, like, and share if you find this information useful. Thank you for reading and please stay safe!