A storm raging through much of eastern Spain has claimed at least four lives and cut off power to hundreds of thousands. Alicante Airport was also temporarily shut, disrupting over 200 flights.
Image: Reuters/N. Doce
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Hundreds of thousands were left without power in northeastern Spain on Tuesday, following an ongoing bout of strong winds and heavy snowfall which has so far left four people dead.
The storm left 220,000 residents without power in Girona province, emergency services said, although a break in the main supply from France had been repaired.
Storm Gloria has battered Spain since Sunday, and reached southern France on Tuesday. Valencia on the Mediterranean coast and the Balearic Islands, including Mallorca, bore the brunt of Monday's storm.
Waves over 8 meters (26 feet) high were also spotted by port authorities in Valencia on Monday, a new record.
Two people died of hypothermia near Valencia, while in Avila a man died when roof tiles hit his head after they were dislodged by strong winds.
Another man was killed by a vehicle on a snowbound road in Asturias, Reuters news agency reported.
Strong winds battered ValenciaImage: AFP/J. Jordan
Alicante Airport shuts down
Catalonia's regional government banned outdoor activities in Girona and Barcelona, while Alicante Airport was forced to temporarily close, disrupting more than 200 flights.
Aena, the state-owned airport operator, tweeted on Monday that the airport would gradually resume operations on Tuesday morning.
Wind speeds in parts of eastern Spain reached 115 kilometers per hour on Monday (about 70 miles per hour). Schools and other public services were largely closed.
The storm is not expected to let up until at least Wednesday. Spain has suffered an unusually harsh winter, with several killed at the end of last year in similarly extreme weather.
How is climate change affecting Europe?
The European Parliament has declared a "climate emergency" as Europe has been experiencing extreme weather events ranging from record-breaking heat waves to damaging floods. Is climate change to blame?
Image: picture-alliance/S. Ziese
Record-setting heat waves
The summer of 2019 saw heat records in Europe broken across the continent. In July, Germany recorded its highest temperature ever at 42.6 C (108 F). France broke its heat record twice in 2019, the highest temperature measuring 46.C (114.8 F) in July. Climate change increases the frequency of heat waves.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/R. Yaghobzadeh
Venice under water
In November 2019, the Italian archipelago city of Venice experienced multiple flooding events and the high water mark of 1.5 meters was reached three times in one week for the first time in recorded history. Projected sea level rise due to climate change could make these events more likely in the future.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/M. Medina
Wildfires burning Spain
The same heat wave that brought record temperatures to France sparked the worst wildfires to hit Spain in 20 years. On the Spanish island of Gran Canaria, wildfires in August decimated a national park on the popular tourist island. Hotter temperatures and drier air due to climate change increase the risk of fires.
Image: Reuters/B. Suarez
German forests dying
A combination of drought, storms and extreme heat is depleting Germany's forests. According to BDF, a forest advocacy group, in Germany, more than 1 million established trees have died since 2018. "These are no longer single unusual weather events. That is climate change," said a BDF representative.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/T. Frey
Disappearing glaciers in the Alps
A glacier on the Italian side of Mont Blanc experienced accelerated melting in 2019. And enthusiasts held a "funeral" for the Pizol glacier in the Swiss Alps, which has almost completely disappeared. Scientists say climate change accelerates glacial melting in the Alps.
Image: AFP/F. Coffrini
Drought affecting food production
Two consecutive years of drought in Germany have hit farmers hard. In 2018, record drought caused major crop failures, and heat waves in 2019 also damaged crops. "Climate change means more frequent droughts and extreme weather events in Germany,"said German Weather Service Vice President Paul Becker.
