After epic snow and big freeze… now Madrid braced for floods

Now, the capital is braced for flooding with authorities battling to clear ice and debris caused by Filomena from drains before the next storm arrives.

Technicians from Madrid City Hall have identified at least 404 trouble spots across the capital that are liable to flooding when the next deluge hits on Wednesday.

A team of 320 workers have spent Monday and Tuesday inspecting drains, tunnels and sewers to clear debris caused when branches broke off tens of thousands of trees that were damaged during the snowstorm.

Added to that is the accumulation of rubbish in the streets as bins stood uncollected and overflowing with access blocked by heavy snow.

Huge piles of ice still that are still blocking pavements and covering drains will add to the risk of flooding, explained Madrid’s head of Environment and Mobility, Borja Carabante, as warmer temperatures arrive causing melting that will add to the volume of water being drained through the city.

Spain’s meteorological agency has forecast torrential rain bringing between 10 and 20 litres per square metre to the metropolitan region when the storm hits on Wednesday. That rainfall is likely to increase to 40 litres per square metre in the mountains outside Madrid.

READ MORE: 

• Ten phrases to talk about cold and wet weather like a true Spaniard
• ANALYSIS: Should Madrid be declared a disaster zone as true cost of storm damage emerges?
• IN PICS: Spectacular images of snow-covered Spain from the air