INSIDE OTWO | MARCH 2026
Storm Leonardo causes flooding and mass evacuations in Spain and Portugal
Storm Leonardo hit Spain and Portugal particularly hard, causing flooding, evacuations and a state of emergency in many towns in south-western Europe. Heavy rainfall, concentrated in a very short period of time, caused rivers to burst their banks, flooded roads and jeopardised basic infrastructure, forcing the authorities to activate civil protection plans.
In Portugal, the storm left at least one person dead after a vehicle was swept away by the current in an area near a dam. In Spain, rescue teams conducted search operations in areas affected by flash floods, while several southern provinces experienced exceptional rainfall, forcing preventive evacuations and transport disruptions.
INSIDE OTWO | MARCH 2026
Entire municipalities had to be evacuated due to the risk of further flooding, and thousands of people moved to safe areas. The magnitude of the event has once again brought the Iberian Peninsula’ s growing vulnerability to extreme weather events to the forefront of the debate.
Experts warn that these types of storms, which are becoming more intense and frequent, fit into an increasingly evident climate pattern: a warmer atmosphere retains more moisture and increases the likelihood of torrential rains and flash floods.
While the affected communities continue to assess the damage, the authorities insist on maintaining caution, as the risk of new storms remains present.
La borrasca Leonardo desata inundaciones y eva-