Andalucía is bracing for severe weather this Sunday as ex-Hurricane Gabrielle, now downgraded to a storm, sweeps in from the west of the Iberian Peninsula.
Spain’s state meteorological agency Aemet has issued an urgent notice, placing three Andalucian provinces on yellow alert for heavy rain.
In addition, Emergency Services 112 Andalucia has released a specific warning for the beaches of Huelva and Cádiz, where powerful waves and dangerous rip currents are expected to pose a serious risk to bathers.
Officials have urged the public to stay out of the water if red flags are flying.
What is a rip current?
A rip current is a strong flow of water that forms in the surf zone and pulls from the shoreline back out to sea.
It occurs because the water pushed in by waves must return to the ocean, and does so by funnelling into narrow channels that move at high speed.
Although rip currents do not drag swimmers under, they are highly dangerous because they exhaust anyone trying to swim directly against them. Safety experts advise:
- Stay calm and float until the current loses strength.
- Swim parallel to the beach to escape the channel before heading back to shore.
With Gabrielle on the horizon, emergency services are urging beachgoers in Huelva and Cádiz to exercise extreme caution and to keep well clear of the water until conditions improve.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
