Storm Claudia Brings Additional Inundation to the Portuguese nation and Spain

Once again, Portugal and Spain find themselves battling the aftermath of extensive flooding following Storm Claudia brought torrential downpours and powerful gusts over the past seven days.

Claudia's Genesis and Journey

This weather system developed from a low-pressure zone that had beforehand ushered in early season chilly and snowy weather through the eastern regions of Canada and the north-eastern United States during the beginning of the eleventh month.

The system journeyed east across the Atlantic Ocean in the middle of the second week of November before slowing and stalling to the north-west of the Spanish and Portuguese landmass, caught in the trough of an increasingly amplified jet stream.

Impact on Spain and Portugal

The northwestern Spanish region of Galicia was the first affected, with 80-150mm of rain coming down along its Atlantic coast in just a single day up to the evening of Wednesday as a slow-moving band of rain crawled across the western sectors of the region.

More downpours and stormy weather on the following Thursday brought flooding to Portuguese localities where an elderly couple perished in the city of Lisbon after floodwaters from the swollen Tagus flooded their dwelling as they were asleep.

Stormy conditions lasted through the weekend, with a twister ripping through a campsite and a close-by inn in the town of Albufeira in Portugal's south on Saturday, claiming the life of an elderly British lady and harming two dozen and eight persons.

Extended Consequences across the European continent

Claudia had more extensive impacts across the western European nations. By siphoning heated air from the subtropical zones, the system contributed to thermometers climbing in south-west France to 85.6 degrees Fahrenheit, the country's highest recorded November temperature.

By Friday, this warm and humid air mass collided with a frigid air system across more northern parts of Europe, creating a rainfall belt running from Ireland's west to Russia.

In the United Kingdom, this halting system of rain produced exceptionally large precipitation amounts, resulting in severe flooding in Wales.

As the storm continues to weaken early this week, the cold air mass will advance southward, providing the continent its initial glimpse of winter.

Simultaneous Occurrences in California, USA

California experienced a so-called atmospheric river last week, delivering intense precipitation and powerful winds that resulted in rapid flooding and debris flows in areas affected by blazes earlier this year.

Over two inches of rain was recorded in the southern region of the state on last Friday, with a additional two inches widely across the state on Saturday last.

Over four inches of rain accumulated over coastal parts of southern California in all, attaining 200mm overall in areas of elevated terrain.

An atmospheric river is a narrow band of hot, humid air originating from the tropical or subtropical regions.

Locations with fire damage including Palisades and the town of Altadena experienced the worst of the flash flooding and mudslides, leading to evacuations.

In other parts of the state, a man in his seventies died after his automobile was carried away from a submerged bridge, and a child of seven years and her parent were dragged into the ocean by large waves on the California's Central Coast.