Severe Storms Kill One in Spain, Disrupt US Events as Typhoon Dujuan Approaches Japan
Intense thunderstorms caused flooding and one death in eastern Spain, while extreme rainfall disrupted a New Jersey half marathon and flooded Connecticut and Rhode Island. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Dujuan is forecast to intensify into a typhoon near Japan.
Severe weather systems have impacted regions across Europe, North America, and the Pacific this week, resulting in fatalities, significant infrastructure disruption, and widespread flooding.
In eastern Spain, intense, slow-moving thunderstorms struck on Wednesday afternoon, causing severe flooding and killing at least one person. Torrential rain, strong winds, and large hail affected Valencia and Barcelona, with weather stations west of Barcelona recording over 100mm of rain in just a few hours. A man died near Olivella, west of Barcelona, after his car was swept away by floodwaters; his body was found on Thursday.
The impact extended to transportation and sports. Flights were cancelled across the region due to the storms. Additionally, the La Liga match between Levante and Athletic Club was postponed because of flooding at the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia.
Across the Atlantic, extreme rainfall disrupted events in the United States. The Racefaster half marathon in New Jersey faced significant challenges, with runners wading through chest-deep water. Between 50mm and 100mm of rain fell during the race, though 250 people managed to finish the event. Flooding also occurred in Connecticut and Rhode Island, where up to 190mm of rain was recorded over a 36-hour period.
Meanwhile, attention has turned to the West Pacific Ocean, where Tropical Storm Dujuan is moving northwest toward Japan. Forecasters expect the storm to become a category one typhoon on Friday. Dujuan is projected to skirt past Japan's south-east coast, potentially affecting Tokyo and surrounding areas.
