Although tempests and typhoons have churned in the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific east, the continent has encountered intense weather of its own. A weather disturbance that developed over the Mediterranean in the middle of the week moved towards the northeast into the Balkan region on Thursday morning, producing broad downpours, electrical storms and prolonged precipitation.
Ongoing Rains and Critical Alerts
This weather pattern is expected to continue into Friday and beyond, with forecasting tools suggesting two-day totals of 80-130mm of rainfall across much of the Balkan Peninsula. Severe weather alerts were declared for Serbia, Romania's southwest, Greece's northeast, and the Aegean island groups, highlighting the danger of floods and danger to residents. Strong winds also shut down educational institutions on the island of Zakynthos in the Ionian sea islands.
Cold Air Contributes Harshness
Chilly air masses pulled in from Eastern European regions increased the intensity, producing significant snowfalls across the Alpine region, with several predictions forecasting snow levels of up to 80cm by the weekend.
Recent Floods in Spanish Regions
Previously, eastern Spain and the Balearic Islands suffered devastating floods as the remnants of Hurricane Gabrielle crossed the Iberian region before slowing over the Balearic Sea. The city of Valencia and Ibiza were worst affected; Gandia registered 14 inches in half a day – over tenfold its average for the month, while Ibiza had 10 inches in 24 hours, its most precipitation in a day since at least 1952.
Highways, train stations, parks, and educational facilities were compelled to shut down, while a measuring device near Aldaia measured 57 millimeters in just 35 minutes, leading to the local ravine to burst its banks. The floods come just shy of a year after destructive floods in Valencia in 2024 that caused the death of over 230 individuals.
Storm Bualoi Hits Vietnamese Regions
Typhoon Bualoi struck the coast across central Vietnam this past week, delivering heavy rain, strong winds, and massive ocean waves. Over 300 millimeters of rain was recorded within a 24-hour period on Monday, leading to flash floods and mudslides that closed thousands of routes and stranded communities across the northern regions. Dozens of flights were halted or rescheduled, and rail transport between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City were halted.
There have been 36 lives lost and 147 people injured, with 21 individuals still lost. Over 210,000 homes were impacted or inundated, with over 51,000 hectares of agricultural produce ruined. The Vietnamese authorities has assessed that Bualoi has caused in excess of £260 million in damage to property this week.
