Parts of Spain just saw a year's worth of rain in 20 days

"Spain has been hit time and time again by devastating rain events in recent years. And in 2026, the storms just keep coming. In the mountainous southwestern part of the country, Grazalema - in the Andalusia region - has recorded over 90 inches of rain so far this year, including 78 inches in just the last 20 days alone. Meteorologist Nahel Belgherze called it a " hydrologically absurd " amount. It is more than what would typically fall in an entire year at that location."

"Last week's deadly storm, named Leonardo, came as part of a sequence of atmospheric rivers that has hit Spain since the start of the year, leading to swollen rivers, landslides and evacuations. In a Monday statement, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said that the government would be providing support to affected sectors. A Washington Post investigation into the movement of moisture in the sky found most of Spain to be a hot spot"

"Although it's not in the plain, Grazalema is often considered the wettest part of Spain. Situated in a rural region defined by several mountain ranges, it averages about 75 inches of rain per year, or about three to four times what non-mountainous nearby regions see. This round appears to have shattered long-standing multi-week and multi-month rainfalls in the area. An annual record from 1941 - which this flood is being compared to - is closer to 150 inches."

Extraordinary rainfall has inundated southwestern Spain in 2026, with Grazalema recording over 90 inches this year, including 78 inches in the past 20 days. Meteorologist Nahel Belgherze described the totals as a " hydrologically absurd " amount, exceeding a typical annual total for the location. Last week's deadly storm Leonardo was part of a sequence of atmospheric rivers since the start of the year, causing swollen rivers, landslides and evacuations. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez pledged government support to affected sectors. A Washington Post investigation identified much of Spain as a hotspot where increasing moisture flows are producing extreme rainfall.

Read at The Washington Post