Two people died as Storm Adam brought heavy rain, flooding, and travel disruptions to eastern and southern Spain over the weekend. A 35-year-old woman was swept away by a river in Cabrera de Mar on Saturday night, and a 55-year-old woman died after going swimming at Almardà Beach in Sagunto on Sunday night. Local authorities recovered the second victim's body at a nearby beach following a search involving the coast guard and a maritime rescue helicopter.
The storm, which is the first named storm of the 2026-2027 season, follows a period of extreme weather in the region. Earlier in October, two people died during a separate weather event in Catalonia, and the Valencia region recently experienced a series of wildfires. Since Saturday, October 17, heavy showers and thunderstorms have affected the Levante region and the Balearic Islands.
In Ibiza, torrential rain led to flooding, with 60 litres of rain per square metre falling in a single hour on Sunday. The weather forced Ibiza’s main airport to close twice, resulting in 27 flight cancellations and 16 diversions. Social media footage showed water leaking through the terminal roof and flooding the airfields. Additionally, some residents on the island lost electricity during the storm.
The deaths of two individuals underscore the risks to those near coastal or river areas during high-intensity storms. In Cabrera de Mar, a town north of Barcelona, the community observed a minute of silence and a day of mourning on Monday, October 19. The storm also impacted regional infrastructure, requiring emergency deployments of maritime rescue helicopters and coast guard units. These events occurred at the start of the 2026-2027 storm season, demonstrating the potential for flooding in areas previously affected by summer wildfires.
The State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) maintained "significant danger" alerts on Monday, October 19, for Barcelona, Murcia, Ronda, Valencia, Mallorca, Formentera, and Ibiza. While Storm Adam is expected to subside over the next few days, authorities continue to monitor the regions for further flooding. The Council of Cabrera de Mar held its official day of mourning on Monday. --- WHO: Residents and travelers in Spain, the State Meteorological Agency, and emergency rescue services. WHAT: Two fatalities and infrastructure disruption due to Storm Adam. WHEN: October 17 to October 19, 2026 WHERE: Eastern and southern Spain, including Valencia, Catalonia, and the Balearic Islands. WHY: Heavy rainfall and strong winds from the first named storm of the season caused fatal accidents and grounded air travel.