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A severe weather front brought torrential rains, winds reaching up to 155 kilometers per hour, and significant infrastructure disruptions to the Valencian Community on Thursday, according to the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet). The sudden atmospheric shift arrived just 24 hours after record-breaking high temperatures exceeded 44 degrees Celsius across many local areas in the region.
Rapid Weather Shift Driven by Polar Air Mass
The abrupt transition from extreme heat to severe storms was triggered by the rapid passage of a trough crossing the Iberian Peninsula, which carried a fresh polar air mass, according to Aemet. The collision between the accumulated warm air from Wednesday and the incoming cold front generated intense storms. These weather cells moved rapidly across a strip of Valencia province, stretching from the border with Albacete to the metropolitan area of València through the central comarques.
The storm front advanced at an average speed of 70 kilometers per hour, producing intense wet microbursts rather than tornadoes, as clarified by Aemet via social media platform X. These downbursts created violent winds and sudden air displacement from mid-levels, causing extensive damage to trees and fragile structures.
Widespread Structural Damage and Transport Disruption
By late Thursday afternoon, emergency services logged more than 120 incidents due to structural damage, fallen trees, and flying debris, primarily concentrated in the Ribera region. According to reports from the Provincial Fire Consortium and local municipalities, the hardest-hit towns included Alzira, Carcaixent, Sueca, and Sumacàrcer.
In Alzira, winds clocked at 143 km/h tore away part of the roof of the archpriestly church of Santa Catalina, while localized flooding left several zones submerged. Nearby in Carcaixent, severe wind gusts reaching 142 km/h downed trees and blocked multiple streets, forcing traffic closures. Municipal workers in Gavarda also cleared fallen trees that temporarily cut off access to the town via the industrial estate.
Transport networks suffered immediate impacts. The C2 commuter rail line connecting Valencia to Xàtiva experienced delays and temporary suspensions after a tree fell on the tracks between Alzira and La Pobla Llarga. Additionally, Metrovalencia reported service interruptions on Line 1 between L’Alcúdia and Castelló due to blocked tracks.
Rainfall Totals and Peak Wind Gusts
Data compiled by the Valencian Association of Meteorology (Avamet) and Aemet highlighted the extreme severity of the localized winds and precipitation recorded through Thursday afternoon:
- Sumacàrcer (Alt de la Ceja): Recorded a peak wind gust of 149 km/h, the highest recorded in the region.
- Alberic: Registered wind gusts reaching 155 km/h, resulting in severe damage to local parks and vegetation.
- Alzira: Accumulated 42.2 liters of rainfall per square meter alongside 143 km/h wind gusts.
- Polinyà de Xúquer: Led national rainfall totals early in the day with 36.7 liters per square meter, while experiencing 94 km/h wind gusts.
- Villena: Recorded 39.8 liters per square meter of rainfall.
In València, despite morning temperatures remaining above 30 degrees Celsius, orange alerts prompted authorities to fly red flags and close access to the Cabanyal, Malva-rosa, and Patacona beaches. In El Perellonet, wind gusts exceeding 100 km/h caused a palm tree to collapse against residential building facades, prompting local residents to report brief, highly intense wind forces.
Emergency Response and Outlook
Municipal emergency units, including local police and civil protection teams, continued clearing debris, removing fallen branches, and restoring road access late into Thursday evening. Local town halls, including Sueca and Alzira, issued public advisories urging residents to exercise extreme caution as residual instability persisted across parts of the region.
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