Storm Leonardo batters Serpa, Portugal and Grazalema, Spain with extreme rain and evacuations

A deadly surge of rain across the Iberian Peninsula

Storm Leonardo tore across Portugal and Spain, pushing rivers toward breaking points and flooding towns and valleys. The rain fell hard. It fell for hours. Water moved fast through streets and fields. Floods forced evacuations, closed schools, and shut down transport across wide areas of the Iberian Peninsula.

In southeastern Portugal, a man in his 60s died after his vehicle was swept away by floodwaters near a dam in the municipality of Serpa, Portugal. The national civil protection authority confirmed the fatality.
“A vehicle was found with one occupant, so there is one death," a spokesperson said.

In southern Spain, the weather agency AEMET placed parts of Andalusia under the highest red alert due to extraordinary rainfall, warning of floods and landslides. Emergency officials described the situation as very worrying in mountain areas where runoff raced downslope and soil gave way.

Grazalema drenched as mountains shed water

The town of Grazalema, Spain took the brunt of the deluge. More than 40 centimetres of rain fell in 24 hours, an amount equal to what Madrid, Spain typically receives in an entire year. Hillsides released sheets of water. Streams swelled into torrents. Mud slid across rural roads.

The scale of the rain overwhelmed drainage. Ground that had already absorbed earlier storms could take no more. The rain kept coming. Landslides followed.

Emergency crews moved into the worst hit valleys. Roads closed as water crossed pavement and debris collected at low points. Rail services across Andalusia were suspended. Schools closed across the region, apart from Almeria province, as authorities worked to keep people off dangerous routes.

Evacuations and emergency response across Andalusia

Flooding forced around 3,500 people to evacuate across Andalusia. Hundreds of soldiers joined local and regional rescue teams. Emergency aircraft and helicopters were deployed to monitor river basins and low lying communities.

Officials warned that rivers and reservoirs faced extreme risk of overflowing. The water rose. The banks softened. The slopes slid. The threat expanded beyond city limits into surrounding hills and farmland.

Antonio Sanz, the top emergency official in Andalusia, said the situation in nearby mountain municipalities was very worrying as rain continued to load river catchments and destabilize slopes.

Portugal still reeling after Kristin as Leonardo peaks

Storm Leonardo struck a country already strained by Storm Kristin. Last week’s system killed at least five people in Portugal, injured hundreds, and cut electricity to tens of thousands. Leonardo added another wave of damage.

Emergency services in Portugal handled more than 3,300 incidents since Sunday, most tied to flooding, fallen trees, and landslides. More than 11,000 responders were deployed nationwide. In central Portugal, around 200 residents were evacuated as rivers pressed against their banks.

In Alcácer do Sal, Portugal, south of Lisbon, Portugal, the Sado River spilled over and submerged the town main avenue. Water spread across the roadway. Shops and homes sat behind shallow currents.

Authorities raised the national alert to the maximum through at least Friday, warning that several rivers were at high risk of flooding and that water levels could continue to rise in the coming days. Armed forces deployed about 1,600 personnel, including marine teams operating 35 inflatable boats for flood rescues.

Power outages, transport shutdowns, and warnings ahead

Nearly 134,000 households remained without electricity after Kristin, with about 95,000 in the Leiria region, according to the power distributor E-Redes. Leonardo compounded the strain as wind and water disrupted access routes and delayed repairs.

Across Andalusia, almost all suburban, regional, and long distance trains were cancelled. Dozens of roads closed as floodwater crossed low points and landslides blocked mountain routes. Bus replacement services could not operate due to unsafe conditions.

In Jimera de Líbar, residents watched water climb.
“It has been raining like this for hours. The river has already overflowed, and people are very worried inside their homes. We are experiencing many power cuts," said Jose Luis Castillo.

Portuguese authorities warned of a peak in impacts overnight Wednesday into Thursday, with further worsening expected over the weekend and another peak early next week. Rain and wind were forecast to reach maximum intensity in the Lisbon region and the Algarve overnight Wednesday into Thursday.