Weather tracker: Canary Islands hit by flash floods and 30mm of rain in a day

Gran Canaria and Tenerife worst affected, while eastern Australia prepares for first tropical cyclone for 50 years

On Monday, a storm brought heavy rainfall to the Canary Islands, especially affecting Gran Canaria and Tenerife. Telde, in eastern Gran Canaria received more than 30mm of rain, nearly three times the March average.

Flash floods submerged homes, turned streets into rivers, and swept cars out to sea. Airports and popular beaches shut down ahead of the downpour, affecting more than 850,000 residents. The islands’ mountainous topography, tropical climate and urbanisation worsened the floods by aiding thunderstorm formation and runoff.Snow accumulated on Mount Teide in Tenerife, creating a rare but disruptive scene for emergency services and local infrastructure.

The storm was driven by a weather system known locally as depresión aislada en niveles altos (Dana), which translates as an isolated depression at high levels. This occurs when cold air at high altitudes mixes with warm, moist air below, creating unstable conditions and significant rainfall. Mainland Spain is expected to receive heavy rain in the coming days as the Dana system moves north-eastwards across the Iberian peninsula.

Meanwhile, Cyclone Alfred, forming in the Coral Sea off eastern Australia, is set to make landfall early Saturday between the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast, affecting Brisbane, Queensland and New South Wales. Classified on Friday morning as a category 2 storm with gusts of up to 80mph, it is expected to bring 800mm of rainfall, flooding, and storm surges, affecting more than 4 million people. Schools and airports have closed in preparation.

Alfred is set to be the first tropical cyclone to hit the east coast in 50 years, with its rare southward path driven by ocean temperatures almost 1C warmer than normal, alongside its recent interaction with a mid-latitude trough causing it to make a sharp U-turn towards Australia’s eastern coast.

Powerful storms and tornadoes have battered the southern US this week, bringing heavy rain, flooding, 70mph winds, lightning-sparked wildfires and dust storms. Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Oklahoma have been hit hardest, with about 22 tornadoes recorded by 6 March, including one that caused a building to collapse. Strong winds left 500,000 people without power, and the storms have resulted in three deaths and six injuries. The severe weather has also disrupted the popular Mardi Gras festival.

Cover photo:  A woman uses her mobile phone on Tuesday while watching rainwater running down the Ojos de Garza ravine in Telde, on Gran Canaria, Spain. Photograph: Borja Suárez/Reuters