Parts of Andalucia have been placed under weather warnings on Monday as a volatile combination of heavy rain, thunderstorms, hail, powerful winds and temperatures of up to 38C hits southern Spain.
State weather agency Aemet has activated yellow alerts in Almeria and Granada provinces for rain and thunderstorms, while separate heat warnings cover parts of Granada, Cordoba and Jaen.
The most unstable weather is expected during the afternoon, when some areas could receive 20mm of rain in just one hour.
In Almeria province, the Valle del Almanzora and Los Velez area is under yellow warnings for both rain and thunderstorms from 2pm until 8pm.
Aemet forecasts up to 20mm of rainfall in an hour, with the warning applying particularly to the north of the area.
More significantly, forecasters warn that the storms could be accompanied by hail and very strong gusts of wind.
Granada braced for storms
Similar conditions are forecast in Granada province.
The Guadix and Baza area is under yellow warnings for rain and thunderstorms between 2pm and 8pm, with as much as 20mm potentially falling within an hour.
Aemet again warns that thunderstorms could produce hail and very strong wind gusts, particularly in the north of the affected area.
The agency’s warnings for eastern Andalucia have repeatedly highlighted the possibility of hail and powerful gusts accompanying the storms.
The unsettled conditions come despite intense heat continuing across other parts of Andalucia.
38C heat at the same time
A yellow heat warning is in force in Cuenca del Genil in Granada province, where temperatures could reach 38C.
The warning runs from 1pm until 9pm.
Temperatures of up to 38C have also triggered a yellow alert in the Campiña Cordobesa, covering the countryside around Cordoba, during the same period.
Another yellow warning is active in Cazorla and Segura in Jaen province, where maximum temperatures could again reach 38C.
The contrasting alerts mean Andalucia faces a particularly unstable Monday, with extreme summer heat affecting some inland areas while torrential downpours, hail and thunderstorms threaten others.
Murcia faces even more severe storms
Conditions are expected to become more severe immediately to the east in the Region of Murcia.
Aemet has issued an orange warning for rain and thunderstorms in the Altiplano and northwest of Murcia, with the alerts again concentrated during Monday afternoon. Other parts of the region are under yellow warnings.
Thunderstorms there could also bring hail and very strong winds, while temperatures will remain exceptionally high despite the rain.
The widespread instability is part of a broader episode affecting eastern and southeastern Spain on Monday, with weather alerts also covering areas of the Valencian Community and Castilla-La Mancha.
