Holidaymakers planning autumn getaways to Spain are being urged to brace for brutal weather as the nation’s first named storm of the season, Storm Alice, batters the mainland. Spain’s meteorological agency AEMET has officially designated the storm and issued a series of Status Yellow and Status Orange weather warnings across much of the eastern coastline and Balearic Islands – regions that are magnets for tourists.

The storm, which started developing late on Wednesday, is poised to unleash torrential downpours, thunderstorms and the threat of flash flooding, with weather experts cautioning that the harsh conditions could continue well into next week. AEMET declared: “Very heavy and persistent rainfall affecting mainly the eastern third of the peninsula and the Balearic Islands from the late hours of Wednesday and probably until Monday, October 13. The area with the greatest accumulations throughout the episode will be around Cabo de la Nao, particularly the coastal and pre-coastal areas of Valencia and Alicante, where rainfall could be locally torrential, over 60 millimetres per hour,” reports Dublin Live. 

They added: “Showers may result in local flash flooding in low-lying areas, streams and gullies, so the potential danger level of this situation is high.”

The first waves of rainfall hit eastern Spain on Wednesday evening and is set to gather strength throughout the week.

AEMET has predicted that the heaviest downpours and blustery conditions will most likely strike on Friday and Saturday, with “accumulated rainfall exceeding 140 millimetres in 12 hours” across portions of Valencia, Alicante and Murcia.

The meteorological service has issued alerts regarding “slow-moving, regenerating showers” that could trigger sudden flooding in lower-lying regions, whilst northeastern winds are forecast to strengthen along coastal areas.

AEMET has also emphasised a “high uncertainty” concerning Storm Alice’s precise path and strength, warning that circumstances could change dramatically based on the storm’s interaction with surface winds.

Although the storm isn’t expected to substantially impact western Spain or the Canary Islands, tourists heading to eastern Spain and the Mediterranean shoreline are being urged to monitor local weather updates and follow official guidance.

It comes as parts of the UK are braced for heavy snowfall later this month. The latest weather maps from WX Charts show snow hitting parts of Scotland as temperatures also tumble across the UK.

According to the maps, up to 10cm (four inches) of snow could fall in the Scottish Highlands on Tuesday, October 21. There will be downpours throughout the morning, from 6am until 12pm.

Meanwhile, the mercury will drop as low as 6C in Scotland at midday on October 21, with single-figure temperatures also expected elsewhere across the nation.