The attention of authorities and emergency services is now focused on the anomalous behavior of several main rivers, with unusual floods that have already forced the evacuation of over 5,500 people and keep extensive areas of southern Spain on alert. The mountain town of Grazalema, in the province of Cádiz, has become the symbolic epicenter of the weather event. The lull in the rain, far from alleviating the situation, has allowed water accumulated in the sierras, reservoirs, and aquifers to begin moving towards the lower basins, dangerously increasing the flow of rivers such as the Guadalete, Guadalquivir, and Genil. In contrast, in Málaga, Granada, Jaén, and Cádiz, civil protection services remain deployed due to the possibility of new overflows and landslides, while the status of dams and reservoirs is monitored continuously. According to meteorological and emergency management agencies, the situation could last at least until Wednesday, as a new Atlantic storm approaches the Iberian Peninsula. This phenomenon has authorities on edge, who warn that flood peaks may occur hours or even days after the heaviest rains have ended. Downstream from Grazalema, the Guadalete river overflowed in several sections, forcing new evacuations in Jerez de la Frontera and El Puerto de Santa María, where entire neighborhoods were flooded. During the last night, the town was practically deserted, as authorities ordered a preventive evacuation due to the risk of landslides caused by the pressure of the subterranean aquifer running through the urban area. Paradoxically, the most critical moment of the episode coincides with a pause in the precipitation. The situation is replicated at various points across the region, with particular concern in the Guadalquivir basin, whose flow remains above normal levels for this time of year, creating risks in rural and urban areas of Córdoba and Seville. The only relative exception within the Andalusian map is the province of Almería, which has so far not recorded comparable damage to the rest of the territory. Since the start of the meteorological episode, the municipality has accumulated nearly 800 liters per square meter, an exceptional record even for one of the rainiest areas in the country. In this context, the call to exercise extreme caution, respect evacuation orders, and avoid unnecessary travel in affected areas remains in effect. While the additional rains are not expected to be as intense as Leonardo, they could aggravate an already saturated scenario, with soils unable to absorb more water and river courses at their capacity limit. The regional authorities warned that the main risk in the coming hours will come less from new intense precipitation, but from the accumulated runoff and ground instability, especially in mountainous areas and in settlements built on aquifers or slopes.
