South-Eastern European Nations Confront Increased Flooding Threat Because of Soggy Circumstances
As cyclones and typhoons have churned in the Atlantic and eastern Pacific, the continent has faced extreme weather of its own. A weather disturbance that emerged over the Mediterranean midweek traveled north-east into southeastern Europe on Thursday, bringing widespread rain showers, electrical storms and prolonged rainfall.
Ongoing Precipitation and Severe Warnings
The low-pressure area is predicted to remain into the end of the week, with weather models suggesting 48-hour period accumulations of 80 to 130 millimeters of precipitation across the majority of the Balkans. Highest-level advisories were issued for Serbia, southwestern Romania, Greece's northeast, and the Dodecanese and North Aegean Islands, emphasizing the threat of flooding and threat to life. High winds also shut down schools on the island of Zakynthos in the Ionian Islands.
Cold Air Adds Severity
Frigid temperatures brought in from Eastern European regions increased the intensity, causing heavy snowfall across the Alpine region, with certain forecasts forecasting snow levels of as much as 80 centimeters by the coming weekend.
Earlier Inundation in Spain
Previously, the eastern part of Spain and the Balearic archipelago experienced serious flooding as the leftovers of Tropical Storm Gabrielle crossed the Iberian region before slowing over the nearby sea. The city of Valencia and the island of Ibiza were hardest hit; The town of Gandia measured 356.8mm in half a day – significantly exceeding its typical September rainfall, while the island had 254 millimeters in one day, its rainiest day since at least the mid-20th century.
Highways, train stations, parks, and educational facilities were compelled to shut down, while a rain gauge near Aldaia recorded over two inches in just 35 minutes, leading to the local ravine to overflow. These inundations come almost a year after catastrophic inundations in the region in 2024 that claimed the lives of over 230 individuals.
Typhoon Bualoi Affects Vietnam
Typhoon Bualoi arrived onshore across the central part of Vietnam this week, bringing heavy rain, powerful gusts, and massive ocean waves. More than 300mm of rainfall was recorded within a 24-hour period on the start of the week, triggering sudden floods and mudslides that closed more than 3,000 roads and stranded villages across the northern regions. Dozens of flights were disrupted or postponed, and rail transport between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City were stopped.
Authorities reported 36 fatalities and 147 people injured, with 21 persons still unaccounted for. More than 210,000 houses were damaged or flooded, with over 51,000 hectares of agricultural produce wiped out. The Vietnamese authorities has calculated that the storm has resulted in over $350 million in economic losses this past week.