14 Oct 2018 | 08:43 AM UTC
Spain/Portugal: Leslie hits Iberian Peninsula, causing power and flight disruptions /update 2
Leslie hits Portugal and north-central Spain with high winds and heavy rain on October 14; thousands remain without power; flight cancelations reported
Event
Leslie hit Portugal as a post-tropical storm before moving into Spain on Sunday, October 14. Wind gusts as high as 190 km/h (118 mph) were reported in Portugal, resulting in the cancelation of 41 flights and power outages affecting 15,000 people in Leiria district and the vicinity of Lisbon. The storm moved over into north-central Spain, affecting Castilla y León, Asturias, and Cantabria, particularly the provinces of Zamora, Segovia, Ávila, and Salamanca. Heavy rains and strong winds of up to 96 km/h (60 mph) were reported. Power disruptions and flooding are possible in north-central Spain.
Context
Tropical cyclones and hurricanes typically form off in the Atlantic Ocean from May through November, but rarely affect mainland Europe.
Advice
Individuals in the affected areas are advised to monitor local weather reports, anticipate heavy rain, high surf, strong winds, and possible flash flooding and transportation delays, and adhere to any instructions issued by local authorities. Remember that walking or driving through running water can be dangerous - 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock over an adult.
