Storm Leonardo has unleashed some of the most destructive winter weather Spain has seen in recent years, inundating entire communities, forcing mass evacuations and disrupting travel across key tourist regions. As the storm batters Andalusia in the south and Galicia in the northwest, the United Arab Emirates has issued an urgent advisory for its nationals in Spain, urging Emirati travelers and residents to exercise maximum caution, stay in close contact with authorities and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions.
UAE Issues Urgent Advisory as Storm Leonardo Intensifies
The UAE Embassy in Madrid and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have moved swiftly in response to the escalating situation, warning Emirati nationals in Spain to avoid flood-prone and low-lying areas, monitor local weather alerts and follow the guidance of Spanish civil protection authorities. The advisory, issued on February 7, underscores the seriousness of Storm Leonardo’s impact on some of Spain’s most visited regions and comes as thousands of residents and visitors are being moved from at-risk zones.
Emirati citizens have been urged to register with the Tawajudi service, which allows UAE authorities to track and assist nationals abroad in emergencies. Embassy hotlines have been publicized for urgent situations, and officials emphasize the importance of maintaining updated contact details and travel itineraries in case evacuations or emergency relocations become necessary.
While no specific injuries to UAE nationals have been reported so far, the advisory highlights the potential for sudden flooding, landslides, road closures and power outages across parts of Spain. Travelers are being advised to reconsider nonessential movement in the hardest-hit areas and to stay in secure accommodation until conditions improve.
Record Flooding and Mass Evacuations Across Andalusia
Andalusia, long celebrated for its whitewashed hill towns, Moorish architecture and sun-drenched coast, has become the epicenter of Storm Leonardo’s devastation. Days of torrential rain have swollen rivers and reservoirs, overwhelmed drainage systems and transformed normally picturesque valleys into dangerous waterways. Regional officials describe the storm’s ferocity as unprecedented for the area, with emergency services stretched thin as they respond to thousands of incidents.
Authorities in the region report that at least several thousand residents have been ordered to leave their homes as a precaution, with evacuations spread across multiple provinces including Cádiz, Málaga, Córdoba, Granada, Huelva, Jaén and Seville. Some villages have been fully cut off by overflowing streams and damaged roads, while emergency personnel work around the clock to restore access and relocate vulnerable residents to temporary shelters in nearby towns and cities.
The Guadalquivir River, one of Spain’s great waterways, has breached its banks in parts of Córdoba province, prompting further evacuations as floodwaters encroach on residential neighborhoods and agricultural land. Reservoirs such as Bornos and Arcos in Cádiz are at or near capacity, forcing operators to release water even as more torrential rain falls, a combination that raises the risk of additional flooding downstream in the coming days.
Grazalema and Rural Communities Face “Apocalyptic” Rainfall
Among the most dramatic scenes of the crisis has unfolded in Grazalema, a small mountain village in Cádiz province famed for its beauty and its unusually wet microclimate. Local authorities ordered a total evacuation of the town as Storm Leonardo delivered rainfall on a scale rarely recorded in modern Spanish history. Residents have been moved in stages, door to door, by the Guardia Civil, the Military Emergency Unit and local emergency teams, with many relocated to emergency facilities in the nearby town of Ronda.
In little more than half a day, Grazalema reportedly received the equivalent of a full year’s rainfall for Madrid, with some gauges registering several hundred liters of water per square meter in less than 24 hours. Over a roughly ten-day period, accumulated rainfall has surpassed typical annual totals for some of Spain’s wettest northern cities, overwhelming the area’s natural drainage and saturating the steep mountain terrain that usually absorbs heavy rain.
The combination of sodden soil, overflowing streams and steep slopes has heightened the risk of landslides and structural damage. Authorities have warned that aquifers in the wider region are “full to the brim,” meaning that additional rainfall has nowhere to go except downhill and into already swollen rivers and ravines. For rural communities, including farmsteads and isolated hamlets, this instability poses a long-term threat that will continue even after the skies begin to clear.
Galicia and Northern Spain Braced for Continuing Turmoil
While the headlines have focused on Andalusia, the storm has also delivered heavy rainfall and powerful winds to Galicia and other parts of northern Spain. In this Atlantic-facing region, known for its lush landscapes and rugged coastline, authorities have warned of rising river levels, coastal flooding and potential landslides in interior valleys. Rivers that have been running high since December are now near or above flood stage, with little capacity left to absorb further downpours.
Travelers to Galicia’s popular cities and coastal towns are encountering train delays, localized road closures and cancellations of regional flights and ferry services. Inland routes that cross mountain passes are particularly vulnerable to disruption from a mix of torrential rain, low cloud and, at higher elevations, snow and sleet linked to the wider Atlantic storm system. Authorities have placed multiple provinces on weather alert as they monitor river gauges and slope stability in rural districts.
The broader Iberian Peninsula is also bracing for the arrival of another Atlantic system, named Marta, which is expected to sweep across already saturated terrain. Spanish meteorological services warn that additional rain and strong winds, layered on top of the damage inflicted by Leonardo, could prolong disruptions, trigger new evacuations and complicate recovery efforts, especially in northern and northwestern regions.
Human Toll and Tragic Incidents Amid the Deluge
Amid the widespread evacuations and heroic work of emergency teams, Storm Leonardo has taken a human toll. Spanish authorities have confirmed at least one fatality in the province of Málaga, where a woman is believed to have been swept away by floodwaters while trying to rescue her dog from a swollen river. Rescue teams have also searched for others reported missing in fast-moving streams, underscoring the deadly force of seemingly small waterways once they rise out of their banks.
In many affected communities, residents have watched helplessly as ground-floor homes, shops and garages filled with muddy water, destroying possessions, damaging vehicles and leaving behind thick layers of sludge. Farmers across Andalusia and parts of Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha face severe crop losses as fields remain submerged, orchards stand in standing water and livestock are moved hastily to higher ground. For local economies dependent on agriculture and rural tourism, Leonardo’s impact is likely to be felt long after the waters recede.
The psychological strain of sudden evacuation, uncertainty about property damage and the stress of prolonged bad weather have also weighed heavily on residents and visitors. Local authorities, NGOs and volunteer organizations have opened emergency shelters and support centers, providing displaced families with food, blankets, medical care and psychological assistance as they await the all-clear to return home or assess the full extent of the damage.
Travel Disruptions for Visitors in Spain’s Key Tourist Regions
For international travelers, including Emiratis, Storm Leonardo has significantly disrupted mobility across large swathes of Spain. In Andalusia, motorway and secondary road closures due to flooding, rockfalls and fallen trees have made overland journeys unpredictable. Some routes linking popular destinations such as Seville, Málaga, Cádiz and inland white villages have been intermittently shut, forcing long detours or leaving no viable overland option at all.
Rail services have also been affected, particularly regional and commuter lines that follow river valleys or cross low-lying areas. Trains have been canceled or delayed as operators assess track safety, repair damage and wait for floodwaters to drop. In some cases, replacement bus services are either limited or impossible to operate because the same roads are also under water or at risk from landslides and debris.
Airports in major cities remain operational, but travelers have experienced delayed departures and arrivals linked to strong winds, reduced visibility and the knock-on effect of wider European weather disruptions. Domestic flights into smaller regional airports have seen more frequent cancellations, with airlines urging passengers to check status updates before leaving for the airport and to allow extra time to navigate any weather-related delays at security and boarding.
Guidance for Emirati Nationals and Other International Travelers
In its advisory, the UAE has emphasized that citizens in Spain should prioritize safety over travel plans or sightseeing. Emiratis are urged to stay tuned to official channels from the Spanish authorities, local municipalities and civil protection agencies, and to heed evacuation orders or shelter-in-place instructions without delay. The embassy also recommends avoiding riverbanks, bridges, underpasses, coastal promenades and other areas prone to flash flooding or strong waves.
Travelers who had planned itineraries through Andalusia and Galicia over the coming days are being encouraged to monitor conditions closely and be flexible about postponing or rerouting their journeys. Hoteliers and tour operators in many affected areas are showing significant flexibility, offering date changes or alternative arrangements where possible, recognizing that authorities are prioritizing safety and infrastructure recovery over tourism activity.
For Emiratis and other foreign nationals already in evacuation zones, the priority is to follow the instructions of Spanish emergency teams, carry identification and essential documents, and keep their mobile phones charged for potential alerts and embassy communications. Where feasible, travelers should share their location and contact details with family members and with their embassy, particularly if they are moving between shelters or temporary accommodations.
What Comes Next for Spain’s Storm-Battered Regions
As Spain continues to grapple with the immediate crisis triggered by Storm Leonardo, attention is shifting to the storm’s long-term implications. Infrastructure assessments are underway across Andalusia and Galicia, with engineers checking bridges, tunnels, embankments and drainage systems for damage that may not be immediately visible but could pose future risks. Many rural roads will require significant repair, and in some mountain areas authorities may opt to leave certain routes closed until the risk of landslides has passed.
Local and regional governments are preparing requests for disaster relief funds to help residents, farmers and small businesses rebuild. Insurance claims are expected to surge as homeowners and business operators begin to document water damage, structural cracks and losses of stock or machinery. Tourism boards are already planning campaigns to reassure visitors that the region will recover, though they acknowledge that some natural attractions and hiking routes may remain off limits for an extended period.
For the UAE and other countries with citizens abroad, Storm Leonardo serves as a stark reminder of the importance of early-warning systems, traveler registration services and real-time communication between embassies and their nationals. As climate-linked extreme weather events become more frequent and intense, such advisories are likely to become an increasingly common feature of international travel. For now, Emirati nationals in Spain are being urged to remain vigilant, patient and prepared, as authorities work to safeguard lives and restore a sense of normalcy to some of Europe’s most beloved landscapes.