Madrid is preparing to bid farewell to this early Indian summer and return to spring all at once. The State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has issued an orange alert for tomorrow due to rain and storms in the capital, with very intense downpours in a short period of time and a significant drop in temperatures. The City Council has responded by activating the Flood Action Plan (PAINUNAM) at Level 0, and Emergencias Madrid has already issued specific recommendations regarding the risk of water accumulation in the city.
According to the AEMET, the orange alert indicates a significant risk of adverse weather conditions: in this case, severe storms are expected with rainfall totals of up to 30 liters per square meter in just one hour in the metropolitan area, including the city of Madrid. The warnings will be in effect, according to the forecasts released, between 12:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., the time of day when the heaviest storm activity is expected , along with the possibility of hail and strong gusts of wind.
While the capital is under an orange alert, other areas of the region will remain under a yellow alert, with less intense but still significant rainfall and a risk of storms, particularly in the Sierra, the South, Vegas, and the West. Even so, AEMET and emergency services recommend taking precautions throughout the region, given that the situation is highly dynamic and the exact location of the storm cells can change with just a few hours’ notice.
A sudden change in temperature and weather conditions
The rain comes after a day of milder weather, so the contrast will be noticeable both in the sky and on the thermometer. The forecast points to a significant drop in high temperatures compared to previous days, with a cooler wind chill marked by clouds, wind, and occasional torrential downpours. In practical terms, the change will mean much cooler afternoons and the need to bring out umbrellas and light outerwear when getting around the city.
This instability, typical of spring, may be accompanied by hail in some areas, adding an extra element of risk for drivers, pedestrians, and outdoor terraces. Authorities emphasize that the key factor is not so much the total amount of rain over the day as the intensity over very short periods, which is what ultimately overwhelms the urban drainage system and causes flooding on roadways, in underpasses, and at tunnel entrances.
The Flood Plan is in effect
In light of this situation, the Madrid City Council has activated the Flood Action Plan (PAINUNAM) at its operational Level 0, the Alert and Monitoring phase, as confirmed by Emergencias Madrid. This level entails enhanced monitoring of critical points in the city (gorges, underpasses, areas near waterways, and areas with a history of flooding) and placing municipal cleaning services, the Municipal Police, the Fire Department, and Samur, among others, on standby.
The PAINUNAM, approved in 2022, establishes protocols to anticipate potential urban flooding, with three main pillars: forecasting, prevention, and coordinated response. At this stage, no emergency has been declared, but there is continuous monitoring of weather developments and the performance of the sewer system, so that the response can be scaled up if rainfall exceeds certain thresholds. The city also coordinates with the regional flood plan (INUNCAM), which is activated at other levels when flooding affects multiple municipalities or is linked to the release of water from dams and rivers.