Authorities in Andalucia are preparing for the ‘worst possible scenario’ ahead of the arrival of Storm Marta.
The eighth Atlantic storm of 2026 is set to bring yet more intense downpours to the region this weekend.
It comes as the Guadalquivir River is already at dangerously high levels following weeks of consistent rainfall.
The iconic Roman Bridge in Cordoba city was sealed off on Friday due to the worrying rise in the river flow.
Pedro Escribano, head of coordination for the Confederacion Hidrográfica del Guadalquivir (CHG) in Cordoba, said the arrival of Marta is expected to push river levels higher than those already recorded.
‘The bad part is still ahead of us,’ he warned, stressing that water levels have not dropped enough and that reservoirs across the basin remain close to capacity.
According to Escribano, managers are using the brief window on Friday and Saturday to release water gradually in an attempt to create a safety margin before the next round of heavy rain arrives.
Current forecasts suggest the next rise in the river could exceed present levels, increasing the pressure on flood defences.
The CHG is working with scenarios comparable to the major floods of 2010, although officials underline that the evolving weather adds an unavoidable degree of uncertainty.
Spain’s deputy government representative in Cordoba, Ana Lopez, said administrations are planning for the ‘worst possible scenario’ in order to minimise risk to the population.
The aim, she explained, is to prevent flows from reaching the 2,500 cubic metres per second seen in 2010, keeping them closer to the current 2,000 m3/s, which so far has not caused widespread flooding.
Attention is now focused firmly on Sunday and Monday, when Storm Marta is expected to bring between 40 and 60 litres of rain per square metre.
Villafranca de Cordoba and the Navallana reservoir will be key indicators of how the situation develops in the provincial capital.
Emergency services remain on full alert. The Policia Nacional, Guardia Civil, firefighters and road maintenance teams are operating in coordination, supported by 27 UME troops equipped for evacuations.
Cordoba airport remains closed, several rail services are suspended and around 20 roads are affected.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
