Storm Charles, "small but very deep and adverse," and which has been named by the Portuguese Meteorological Service, will bring abundant rain, strong swells, and very intense winds this Wednesday, with gusts that could even be hurricane-force in large areas of Spain, before beginning to move away on Thursday and losing intensity.
The spokesperson for the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet), Rubén del Campo, has warned that the effects of Charles will first be felt in the Canary Islands, where a "very adverse" day is expected, and then will move to the peninsula, advancing from south to north, affecting large areas of the south, west, and center. "Much caution," insisted Del Campo, who asked to follow the current warnings and the recommendations of Civil Protection.
Canary Islands, first area to feel the storm
In the Canary archipelago, the situation will be especially complicated during the early morning, with very strong and even hurricane-force wind gusts, especially in La Palma, in addition to a maritime storm with waves that can exceed 5 or 6 meters and strong or very strong downpours.
As explained by Rubén del Campo, the rain and wind will gain intensity in the islands before the system moves towards the peninsula, where the episode will maintain a rapid and extensive evolution.
Intense rains, storms, and risk of floods
As the morning progresses, the effects of Charles will move to the peninsula with abundant precipitation in Extremadura, western Andalusia, and the area around the Central System, especially in northern Cáceres and southern Ávila. In these areas, more than 120 liters per square meter can accumulate in less than 12 hours, a threshold that can lead to "floods and a significant increase in river and stream flows."
From midday, the rains may also be persistent and accompanied by very strong storms, with no exclusion of a tornado or waterspout in southern and western Andalusia. Aemet predicts that the precipitation will eventually reach practically the entire peninsula, with a special impact on much of the west, center, and south.
Very intense wind in the south, center, and Castilla y León
The wind will be one of the main risks of the storm, with very intense gusts that will begin to be felt in Andalusia from midday, accompanied by strong swells in the Gulf of Cádiz and the Strait area, where waves could exceed five meters in the early afternoon.
Later, the strongest gusts will extend to Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha and, by mid-afternoon, to the peninsular center and Castilla y León, with speeds that could exceed 90 or 120 kilometers per hour, depending on the areas. Rubén del Campo has warned that this wind can have a "serious or even very serious" impact, especially in densely populated areas, due to the possible fall of branches, trees, and objects located in high places.
Thursday of transition and Friday with new Atlantic storms
Regarding temperatures, this Wednesday they will generally drop, although the weather will remain mild for the time of year, with maximums between 22 and 25 degrees in the Cantabrian Sea and the Mediterranean area.
On Thursday, Charles will gradually move away, although storm Bruna, located in the Atlantic, will continue to exert its influence, albeit less adversely. Rains will continue in much of the territory, with less probability in the southeast and the Balearic Islands, and will be more abundant in the north and around the Central System, accompanied by strong wind during the first half of the day in the peninsular center and north, while a calmer day is expected in the Canary Islands.
On Friday, according to Aemet, "Atlantic storms" with their associated fronts will continue to arrive, especially in parts of the Cantabrian Sea, the west, and the center of the peninsula, with temperatures that will not experience major changes and will remain at values somewhat higher than usual for this time of year in much of the country.
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