| Increasing Intensity of DANA due to Climate Change: DANA events common during autumn and spring, have become more intense and widespread due to rising global temperatures and higher Mediterranean Sea surface temperatures. Warmer air retains more moisture, leading to heavier rainfall, which is now affecting inland cities as well as coastal areas. The Mediterranean reached its highest recorded temperature in August, intensifying such weather events. |
- Torrential rain has led to devastating flash floods in southern and eastern Spain, with at least 64 deaths in Valencia.
- In some areas, more than a month’s worth of rain fell within a single day.
- The primary cause of the intense rain is likely an annual weather phenomenon known as a “gota fría,” or cold drop.
- It is also sometimes called a “DANA,” the acronym for “depresión aislada en niveles altos,” or isolated depression at high altitudes.
- DANA occurs when cold air descends over the warm Mediterranean waters, causing rapid atmospheric instability and the formation of cumulonimbus clouds that bring heavy rain.
- A pocket of cold air detaches from the polar jet stream and mixes with warmer Mediterranean air, triggering DANA.
Dig Deeper: Read about the major winds of Europe like Mistral, Fohn and Levante.
