March looks set to bring further bad weather to Spain, with Storm Regina forecast to be accompanied by so-called ‘blood rain’ from North Africa.
After a period of relatively calm weather in Spain, the turn of the month has brought with it another storm and even so-called ‘blood rain’ from North Africa in the coming days.
Storm Regina storm marks the start of a wet March with storms forecast across much of the country. Strong wind will also affect large areas, bringing gusts and coastal storms.
In addition, the presence of Storm Regina in North Africa will cause airborne dust to come to Spain, resulting in muddy or ‘blood rain’ in different areas of the country.
From Tuesday onwards Regina is expected to become an isolated storm and on Wednesday will move towards northern Morocco, causing heavy rainfall accompanied by stormy conditions in Andalusia, Murcia, southern Extremadura and southern Castile-La Mancha.
The Valencian Community will likely see rain on Wednesday, mainly in pre-coastal areas and southern Valencia province. Showers will also continue in the north of the Canary Islands.
On Thursday, with the centre of the storm located in northern Algeria, more widespread rainfall is expected in the eastern half of the peninsula and the Balearic Islands, with heavier rainfall in Castellón and southern Catalonia.
Meanwhile, a front will move in from the Atlantic bringing rain to Galicia and the eastern Cantabrian coast area.
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Looking ahead to Friday, there is uncertainty about the final position of Storm Regina but state broadcaster RTVE reports that widespread rain will likely continue across the peninsula and the Balearic Islands, as well as showers in the Canary Islands.
Posting on social media, Spain’s state weather agency Aemet warns of “coastal areas, winds, rain, storms and snowfall” in places, along with a handy map outlining areas of the country on yellow and orange-level alerts.
Over 50 litres of rainfall per square metre are expected in Andalusia, the Valencia region, Castilla-La Mancha, Murcia, Madrid, Aragón, and Catalonia.
03/03 11:24 AVISOS HOY Y MAÑANA | España: costeros, vientos, lluvias, tormentas y nevadas. Nivel máximo de aviso: naranja.
Actualizaciones en https://t.co/BLdoSsO2Qv pic.twitter.com/n0cSMCjTs0
— AEMET (@AEMET_Esp) March 3, 2026
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‘Blood rain’
In addition to rain and stormy conditions, as well as the storm’s positioning over North Africa, over the next few days a large amount of Saharan dust will be carried towards the peninsula and the Balearic Islands.
According to Aemet, the stormy weather in the Iberian Peninsula will be accompanied by dust in the air – calima in Spanish – so much of the rain on Tuesday and Wednesday will fall as mud, often described in the media as ‘blood rain’.
