Valencia, on Spain's east coast, was battered by a freak thunderstorm on Thursday, prompting tourists to seek shelter and causing streets to flood. The city had been placed under an orange alert for thunderstorms less than 24 hours after temperatures reached 44C (111.2F).
The extreme weather event is believed to have resulted from a clash between a high-pressure system from the Mediterranean and a low-pressure mass from the Atlantic. Video footage circulating on social media depicted restaurant workers attempting to retrieve chairs that had been swept downstream by the rapidly flowing water, with wind speeds exceeding 49 mph. In one instance, a large tree was seen toppling to the ground.
In addition to Valencia, heavy rain warnings were issued for other areas along Spain's east coast, including Alicante, Castellon, Barcelona, and the Balearic Islands. The Valencia City Council announced the temporary closure of all city parks, gardens, and cemeteries, and suspended some outdoor activities and food markets.
This dramatic shift in weather followed an exceptionally hot period for the region. Wednesday night saw record-breaking overnight temperatures, with many areas in the Valencian Community not falling below 30C (86F). The city of Denia, located approximately 60 miles south of Valencia, recorded a peak overnight temperature of 39C (102.2F). The Valencian Association of Meteorology confirmed that "the hottest night since records started" had been experienced in most towns in the community.
Spain has been grappling with extreme weather phenomena throughout the summer. Earlier in the week, severe storms in northern Spain triggered mudslides that resulted in the deaths of two women in the rural village of Manzanedo de Valdueza. Two infants were treated for injuries following the incident.
This summer also saw some of Spain's most serious wildfires on record. In July, a wildfire in the Almeria province of Andalusia claimed 13 lives, including a British mother. Another four British nationals were found dead in a burnt-out car while attempting to escape the blaze, and a 93-year-old British woman died from her injuries in hospital days later. This wildfire was recorded as Spain's third deadliest on record.