A severe low-pressure system has triggered some of Spain’s most intense floods in decades, particularly in Valencia, where unprecedented rainfall totals have been recorded across the country’s southeastern regions.
In Jerez de la Frontera, 115mm of rain fell within 24 hours on Wednesday, marking it the wettest day on record for this southern city.
Flooding and road closures continue, while authorities caution that the River Barbate in Cádiz is at heightened risk of overflowing due to more rain forecast through the weekend.
Although Valencia’s rare red weather warning has expired, Spain’s meteorological service, Aemet, has maintained yellow and orange warnings for heavy rainfall in the southern and Mediterranean areas.
Meanwhile, South Africa has been struck by severe thunderstorms that led to widespread destruction in the country’s northeastern regions.
Australia’s record-breaking October heatwave hits 45.3°C.Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces bore the brunt on Monday and Tuesday, with strong winds, hail, and heavy rain causing buildings to collapse and injuring more than 40 people, with four fatalities reported.
The extreme conditions also resulted in significant damage to over 30 schools, widespread power outages, and road closures.
In Asia, Japan reported its longest period without October snow atop Mount Fuji since records began in 1955.
Snow typically appears in early October, but this year’s warmer conditions, combined with elevated sea temperatures, have delayed snowfall. Snowfall is now expected in the coming days.
Australia has also experienced a heatwave, with record-breaking temperatures in Western Australia’s Roebourne, where the mercury hit 45.3°C—Australia’s hottest October temperature in 15 years.
The heat is expected to spread across central and southern regions, with unseasonably high temperatures projected for Adelaide and Sydney over the weekend.
These extreme weather events serve as a reminder of the growing impact of climate variability across the globe.