Parts of Europe have been struck by another round of severe weather, with Spain and Portugal hit by a third deadly storm in two weeks. The latest system reported as Storm Marta adds to damage and loss of life following earlier storms, underscoring how persistent storm tracks and saturated ground can turn heavy rain into a widespread hazard.
In Portugal, forecasts called for significant rainfall totals, including the potential for over 100mm in parts of the northwest. When rain comes on top of already waterlogged soils, flood risk rises dramatically: rivers respond faster, drainage systems struggle, and landslides become more likely in vulnerable terrain. Storm impacts also compound roads damaged in one event can fail in the next, and emergency services become stretched as incidents stack up across regions.
The UK has been experiencing its own exceptionally wet spell, and analysis has linked the pattern to a storm sequence guided by a jet stream that has shifted in ways that steer storms into the region and slow their progression. In some places, rain has fallen day after day, leaving soils near saturation meaning even “moderate” rainfall can lead to flooding because the ground can’t absorb more water.
Meteorological discussions around the episode also point to a broader climate context. A warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, which can intensify rainfall when storms develop. And changes in circulation patterns can lead to “stuck” weather regimes where storms repeat over the same geography for days or weeks. While any single storm has many drivers, the trend toward heavier precipitation in a warming climate is a key risk factor for infrastructure and disaster planning.
Europe’s recent storms are also part the World Meteorological Organization’s wider warning that early 2026 has already been marked globally by extremes heat, cold, heavy precipitation, and fires—challenging response agencies and testing resilience. That framing matters because it suggests severe events are not isolated anomalies; rather, they are increasingly overlapping hazards that force governments and communities to manage multiple shocks in short timeframes.
The human impacts of this European storm sequence include not only fatalities, but also displacement, power outages, and economic disruption. When transport links flood, local economies stall. When power fails, the risk rises for vulnerable people who rely on heating and medical devices. And when schools close, families lose routines that help maintain stability during a crisis.
From a policy standpoint, repeated storms put pressure on flood defenses, drainage maintenance, and emergency alert systems. They also raise tougher long-term questions about zoning and building standards: should certain flood-prone areas be rebuilt the same way, or redesigned for a wetter future? How should cities invest in permeable surfaces, retention basins, and upgraded sewer capacity?
In the near term, Europe’s priority is straightforward: keep people safe, restore services, and prepare for the next wave as storms move across the region. In the longer term, the lesson is equally clear: resilience is not a one-time project. It’s an ongoing adaptation to a climate system that is becoming more volatile.