A vehicle was trapped in floodwaters in Margarita, located in the municipality of Vitoria-Gasteiz in Álava province, Basque Country, Spain, February 2024. Credit: SOS Deiak - 112
A vehicle was trapped in floodwaters in Margarita, located in the municipality of Vitoria-Gasteiz in Álava province, Basque Country, Spain, February 2024. Credit: SOS Deiak - 112

by Richard Davies, floodlist

Heavy rain on 26 and 27 February 2024 triggered flooding in several regions of northern Spain. Strong winds and heavy snow in higher elevations also caused problems for emergency services.

According to figures from State Meteorological Agency AEMET, in a 24 hour period to 27 February 2024, Azpeitia in the province of Gipuzkoa in the Basque Autonomous Community recorded 126.8 mm of rain. In the Navarre Region, the regional government reported 181 mm of rain in 24 hours to 27 February in Goizueta and 141 mm in Bera.

Rivers broke their banks in multiple locations in Navarre Region, including the Arga River which flooded areas around Pamplona, Burlada, Villava, Funes and Miranda de Arga, among others. The Arga River recorded a peak flow of 335 /m3 per second at Pamplona, the regional government reported.

Local media reported the Bidasoa River flooded at Sunbilla.  Levels of the Ebro were also extremely high in the region, as peak flows passed through towns such as Castejón and Tudela.

Flooding along the Arga River at Miranda de Arga, Navarre Region, Spain, February 2024. Credit: Gobierno de Navarra
Flooding along the Arga River at Miranda de Arga, Navarre Region, Spain, February 2024. Credit: Gobierno de Navarra

Dozens of roads were closed as a result of flooding. However, Civil Protection and the emergency service 112 SOS Navarra said the floods had less material impact in the region than those of 2021, adding that the reinforcements and repairs of river banks in recent years contributed to avoiding damage to urban areas.

In the Basque region, the swollen Zadorra river flooded areas around Vitoria-Gasteiz and Gamarra Nagusia in Álava Province. Smaller rivers also burst their banks, including the Santo Tomás river at Arkaute, on the outskirts of Vitoria-Gasteiz.

The Basque Region’s emergency service 112-SOS Deiak responded to a total of 222 incidents during 27 February, including for flooding and wind damage in Gipuzkoa, Álava and Bizkaia Provinces.

Levels of the Ebro River at Zaragoza, Spain, February to March 2024. Credit: Confederación Hidrográfica del Ebro
Levels of the Ebro River at Zaragoza, Spain, February to March 2024. Credit: Confederación Hidrográfica del Ebro

Levels of the Ebro River remained high for the following days. The river reached 4.51 metres (orange alert level) at Zaragoza in the Aragon Region on 01 March 2024.  The regional government said peak flows passed through the city of Zaragoza without causing any serious incidents.

Spanish police released video footage of flooding along the Ebro via Social Media: https://twitter.com/policia/status/1763539292633137329