Intense and slow‑moving thunderstorms struck eastern Spain on Wednesday afternoon, producing severe flooding and killing at least one person. The storms began over Castilla‑La Mancha before moving across the east coast, where they stalled and continued overnight.
In Valencia and Barcelona, torrential rainfall, strong winds and large hail caused widespread flooding. Weather stations west of Barcelona recorded more than 100 mm (4 in) of rain in a few hours, and a local station logged 70 mm in just 30 minutes early Thursday. Roads and cars were submerged, flights were cancelled, and the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia had to postpone its La Liga match between Levante and Athletic Club.
Rescuers later found the body of a man whose car was swept away near Olivella, west of Barcelona. The east coast is prone to extreme autumn rainfall, as the 2024 floods in Valencia killed over 200 people. Rising Mediterranean Sea temperatures are adding fuel and moisture to thunderstorms, increasing the likelihood of flooding.
Across the Atlantic, the Racefaster half marathon in New Jersey was disrupted by 50–100 mm of rain, forcing runners to wade through chest‑deep water, though 250 finished. Similar flooding hit Connecticut and Rhode Island, where up to 190 mm fell in 36 hours. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Dujuan, currently in the open west Pacific, is moving northwest toward Japan and is expected to strengthen into a Category 1 typhoon by Friday, potentially skirting the southeast coast and affecting Tokyo and surrounding areas.
