Storm Kristin Hammers Spain With Deadly Winds, Snow and Flooding

Storm Kristin has swept across Spain with violent gusts, torrential rain and widespread snow, leaving one woman dead on the Costa del Sol and stretching emergency services from Andalusia to the central plateau.

Fatal incident on the Costa del Sol

In Torremolinos, a woman lost her life when a tree collapsed in the strong winds as the storm moved along the Málaga coastline, turning seafront promenades and residential streets into danger zones.

Across the wider Costa del Sol and Campo de Gibraltar, fire crews and police have dealt with hundreds of call-outs for fallen branches, damaged roofs, traffic accidents and flooded underpasses as squalls pushed in from the Atlantic.

Floods and evacuations in the south

Heavy rain has swollen rivers in Cádiz province, forcing precautionary evacuations in low-lying areas such as San Roque, where rising water levels threatened homes, roads and industrial estates. Rural tracks and secondary roads have been cut by surface water and mudslides, leaving some villages temporarily isolated.

Road and rail disruption across Spain

The impact on transport has been severe, with more than 160 roads affected by snow, ice or flooding, including stretches of key routes like the A-6 and A-66 that link Madrid with the northwest and west of the country.

Sections of motorway and regional roads in Castilla y León, Castilla-La Mancha and Extremadura have seen closures or strict speed limits, while some train services in affected corridors have been suspended or diverted due to fallen trees, catenary problems and snow on the tracks.

Snow reaches Madrid as coasts face huge waves

Kristin has dragged cold air far enough south for snow to fall on the outskirts of Madrid and on surrounding sierras, where drivers have needed chains and traffic has moved slowly through slushy conditions.

At the same time, Atlantic and Cantabrian coasts have been hit by very rough seas and long-period swells, with maritime authorities warning of waves reaching many metres in height and advising small craft to remain in port.

Red alerts, school closures and official warnings

The state weather service Aemet has maintained weather alerts in almost all regions, including top-level warnings in parts of Almería and other provinces for hurricane-force gusts and dangerous coastal conditions.

Regional governments in Andalusia, Extremadura and North African enclaves such as Ceuta have suspended classes in dozens of municipalities, citing the combined risks of flooding, falling trees, snow and hazardous school bus routes.

Unsettled weather pattern set to continue

Meteorologists note that Kristin is only the latest in a chain of deep Atlantic lows to cross the Iberian Peninsula this month, following quickly on the heels of earlier storms and maintaining a conveyor belt of wind and rain.

Forecasters expect further spells of heavy precipitation, mountain snow and strong gusts in the coming days, urging residents to follow official advice, avoid unnecessary journeys in the worst-affected zones and keep an eye on updated local alerts.