A total of 145.4 l/m2 of rain fell in just 24 hours in Valencia city, the largest amount in the month of May since 1871.

The rains have already caused numerous problems for traffic, the city’s metro and tram systems due to the flooding.  

According to Spain’s State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), the rainstorm was accompanied by lightning and conditions are expected to continue throughout today, May 4th.

Aemet reported that by 10pm on Tuesday night, 181 l/m2 of rain had been collected at the Viveros observatory in Valencia, 122 l/m2 at Valencia airport, 121 l/m2 in Sagunto, 96 l/m2 in El Puig and 82 l/m2 in Castelló de la Plana.

Spain’s national weather agency reported prior to Tuesday’s downpour that this has been the rainiest spring in the Valencia region on record, “even if not a single more drop fell” .

Since March 3rd when the rainfall began, except for “brief pauses in April, it has almost not stopped raining” .

Valencia city was one of the worst affected places

The capital of the Valencia region was the worst-hit area, with the deluge flooding homes and cutting off numerous roads.  

The tunnels of Hermanos Machado (Ronda Norte), Primado Reig/Peset Aleixandre and Clariano and the roads of Farinós and Vera, as well as in Ingeniero Fausto Elio were all closed to traffic due to the floods and some continue to be so on May 4th. 

Valencia ahora mismo, ¡impresionante! #valencia #tormenta #tormentavalencia #inundaciones #rayo #tormenta #storm #tormentavalencia #inundacionesvalencia #lluvia #riada #riadavalencia pic.twitter.com/br9HOlNhnE

— Meteo Extrema (@meteoextrema) May 3, 2022

The maritime neighbourhoods of Malvarrosa and Cabanyal were two of the worst affected with rainfall inundating the ground floor of numerous homes.

According to the Valencian Meteorological Association (Avamet), these coastal areas of ​​the city, experienced more than 200 litres of rain per square metre, in just a few hours. 

Horrible la tormenta de Valencia, así está la zona del velódromo #tormenta #storm #valencia #tormentavalencia #riada #riadavalencia #inundaciones #inundaciom #inundacionesvalencia #rayo #nubes #lluvia #truenos #valència #malvarrosa #a7 #velodromovalencia #paterna pic.twitter.com/4n5hJHmgd7

— Meteo Extrema (@meteoextrema) May 3, 2022

The Universitat Politècnica de València has also suspended all face-to-face lessons on the Vera campus this Wednesday, May 4th, because of the floods.  

Emergency services were called

Local Police sources said that since 8pm on May 3rd when the storm has become torrential, they received 94 emergency calls due to problems caused by the rains.  

The Provincial Firefighters Consortium also became involved when they rescued three people whose vehicle had been trapped by the water in Paterna. In total, they have also answered 50 emergency calls, mostly related to rescuing people and flooded roads.

Con piragua en el barrio de la Malvarrosa de Valencia #tormenta #storm #tormentavalencia #valencia #inundaciones #riada #inundacion #inundacionvalencia #malvarrosa #lluvia #rayo #trueno pic.twitter.com/BLp0R2IfJ7

— Meteo Extrema (@meteoextrema) May 3, 2022

The Emergency Coordination Center of the Generalitat has updated its warnings and has issued a new bulletin on meteorological risks, specifically pre-emergency due to orange-level rains on the south coast of Castellón and the north coast of Valencia.