Severe Weather Warnings Lifted in Málaga Province After Night of Torrential Rain

After a night of intense rainfall and severe weather, Málaga province’s red alert was lifted at 8 a.m. Thursday. Heavy downpours led to the evacuation of over 4,200 residents due to widespread flooding and river overflow risks, particularly affecting the Benamargosa River, which reached a depth of six meters, and the Guadalhorce River near Bobadilla. The Costa del Sol is expected to see continued rain today, though with reduced intensity, especially in areas around western Costa del Sol and Ronda.

Visit Spain In Sunnier Times In A Motorhome! 

Throughout Wednesday night, the western Costa del Sol and Guadalhorce reservoirs experienced significant rainfall, leading to a number of incidents. Marbella’s city center saw a hailstorm around 4 a.m., with approximately 30mm of rain reported by the national weather agency, Aemet. Meanwhile, Ojén recorded 51mm of rainfall within a single hour, according to data from the Junta’s Hidrosur Network. The Guadalteba River also received a burst of almost 18mm in a short period, adding further water to the Guadalteba reservoir.

Málaga city experienced heavy rain as well, with more than 15mm of rainfall recorded at the Paseo de La Farola rain gauge between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m., while El Limonero and El Atabal recorded 8mm and 7mm, respectively.

Lightning strikes added to the night’s challenges, with one strike around 1:30 a.m. igniting a wooden house in La Encina, La Viñuela. Firefighters from Vélez-Málaga quickly responded, successfully extinguishing the blaze.

With the rains easing, local authorities remain vigilant as rivers and reservoirs continue to manage the overnight influx.