Floods, DANA storms and weather warnings in Spain: how to prepare and stay safe

Updated: October 2026

Every autumn, parts of Spain face sudden torrential rain that can turn dry riverbeds into torrents within an hour. If you live on the Mediterranean coast, in the Balearics or near a river or ravine, it pays to understand the warnings and have a plan. This guide explains what a DANA is, what the Valencia floods of October 2024 taught everyone, how to prepare, what to do during a flood and how insurance works afterwards. For emergency numbers and the Es-Alert system, see our guide to safety and emergencies in Spain.

What is a DANA?

DANA stands for depresión aislada en niveles altos, an isolated low-pressure system high in the atmosphere. Older Spaniards often call it gota fría (“cold drop”). It forms when a pocket of cold air breaks away from the main jet stream and sits over an area, sometimes for days. The cold air aloft makes the atmosphere unstable: warm, moist air rises from below and builds tall storm clouds. A warm Mediterranean Sea at the end of summer adds extra moisture, which is why the most damaging episodes tend to hit the east coast in autumn.

Not every DANA is dangerous. Many bring only showers or cooler weather. Since October 2025, AEMET (Spain’s weather agency) gives a name to DANAs that are expected to cause high impact, using the same criteria as for named storms: orange or red warnings must be forecast. If you hear a DANA has a name, take it seriously.

Weather warnings and alerts

AEMET issues rain and storm warnings up to 72 hours ahead in three colours:

• Yellow: low danger, but exposed places and vulnerable people can be affected. Stay informed.
• Orange: significant danger. Take precautions, avoid unnecessary trips and keep away from riverbeds.
• Red: extraordinary danger with possibly catastrophic impacts. Act on the authorities’ instructions and avoid travel unless it is essential.

Your regional emergency service (for example 112 Comunitat Valenciana or 112 Andalucía) decides on civil protection measures such as school closures and sends Es-Alert messages to every phone in the area. Do not wait for an Es-Alert to act: a red AEMET warning on its own is reason enough to change your plans.

What Valencia’s October 2024 floods taught us

On 29 October 2024 a DANA dropped extreme rainfall on the province of Valencia. At Turís more than 700 litres per square metre fell in 24 hours, a Spanish record. Water from the inland hills poured down ravines such as the Rambla (barranco) del Poyo into the densely populated towns of L’Horta Sud, south of Valencia city, where in many places it had not rained much at all. The official death toll in the province is around 230 people, with further victims in Castilla-La Mancha and Andalusia.

The timeline matters. AEMET issued a red warning for parts of Valencia province early that morning and extended it to the whole province by mid-morning. The Es-Alert to phones was sent by the regional authorities only at 20:11 that evening, when water was already flooding many streets. The response is still being examined by the courts and a parliamentary inquiry, but the practical lessons for residents are clear:

• Danger can come from rain far away. A dry sky over your town does not mean you are safe if it is pouring upstream.
• Cars, garages and ground floors are traps. Many people died on roads, in underground car parks or on ground floors while trying to move their cars or belongings.
• Treat red warnings as a reason to act, even before an Es-Alert arrives.

How to prepare before the rainy season

1. Check your flood risk. The national flood zone map (SNCZI) from the Ministry for the Ecological Transition shows mapped flood areas. Not every zone is mapped, so if you live near a river, ravine or rambla, assume some risk.
2. Know your higher ground. Identify an upper floor, a neighbour on a higher storey or a nearby building you can reach on foot.
3. Prepare a small emergency kit: torch, power bank, battery radio, drinking water, basic medicines, copies of your NIE/TIE, passport and insurance policy in a waterproof bag.
4. Clear drains and gutters on roofs, terraces and patios, and keep rainwater channels free of rubbish.
5. Do not store valuables or important papers in basements, storerooms or garages.
6. Check your insurance covers your home, contents and car (see below).
7. Install the AEMET app and follow your regional 112 service on social media.

What to do during a flood

• Do not drive unless you must. Never drive or walk through flooded roads, fords or underpasses. Just a few tens of centimetres of moving water can sweep a car away.
• Do not go down to garages or basements to save your car or belongings. Go up, not down.
• Move to a higher floor if water enters the building, and take your phone, charger and documents with you.
• Keep away from riverbeds, ravines and bridges, even to take photos.
• Switch off electricity and gas at the mains if water is coming in and you can do it safely.
• Call 112 only for real emergencies so lines stay free, and follow instructions on the radio and official channels.

After the water goes down

Stay away from fallen power lines, do not eat food that has been in contact with floodwater, and only drink tap water once the authorities say it is safe. Wear gloves and boots when cleaning, as floodwater often carries sewage and debris.

Insurance and the Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros

Ordinary insurers in Spain usually exclude so-called extraordinary risks such as floods, earthquakes and certain storms. Instead, these are covered by the Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros (CCS), a public body funded through a compulsory surcharge included in most home, business and car policies. You do not take out a separate policy, but you must have valid insurance on the damaged property when the event happens. Without a policy, the Consorcio will not pay.

How to claim:

1. Take photos and videos of all damage before you clean up, and keep receipts for emergency repairs.
2. File the claim on the Consorcio website, by phone (900 222 665), or through your insurer or broker.
3. Have your policy details ready. An assessor (perito) will then inspect the damage.
4. Payment follows the limits of your original policy, so check your sums insured are realistic.

For an overview of home, car and other policies, read our guide to insurance in Spain. If you rent, ask your landlord what the building policy covers and consider your own contents insurance; see our guide to renting in Spain.

Useful links

• AEMET: what the warning levels mean
• AEMET blog: what is a DANA and how does it form? (Spanish)
• AEMET: high-impact DANAs will be named (Spanish)
• MITECO: how to check if you live in a flood zone (Spanish)
• RACE: what the Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros covers (Spanish)
• Understanding insurance in Spain
• Safety and emergencies in Spain

FAQ: floods and DANAs in Spain

When is flood season in Spain?

The highest risk on the Mediterranean coast is usually from September to November, when the sea is still warm. Flash floods can, however, happen in other months and regions too.

Is a DANA the same as gota fría?

Broadly yes. Gota fría is the traditional name; meteorologists prefer DANA, the term for an isolated low-pressure system high in the atmosphere.

Does my insurance cover flood damage?

If you have a valid home, business or car policy, flood damage from an extraordinary event is normally paid by the Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros, up to the limits of your policy. Without insurance there is no Consorcio cover.

Should I move my car out of the garage when a flood warning is issued?

Only well before the rain arrives. Once water is rising, never go down to a garage or basement: it is one of the most dangerous places to be.

Disclaimer: This article is general information only and is not legal or insurance advice. Warnings, procedures and insurance conditions can change – always follow AEMET, your regional emergency service and your insurer.