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While cyclones and typhoons have raged in the Atlantic and Pacific east, Europe has encountered intense weather of its own. A weather disturbance that emerged over the Mediterranean Sea midweek traveled north-east into south-eastern European countries on Thursday, producing broad downpours, stormy weather and extended precipitation.

Persistent Precipitation and Serious Warnings

This weather pattern is forecast to persist into Friday, with models suggesting 48-hour period totals of three to five inches of rain across the majority of the Balkan Peninsula. Highest-level advisories were declared for the nation of Serbia, south-west Romania, Greece's northeast, and the Greek isles, highlighting the threat of floods and threat to life. High winds also closed classes on Zakynthos in the Ionian archipelago.

Frigid Air Adds Harshness

Chilly air masses pulled in from eastern Europe increased the severity, causing significant snowfalls across the Dinaric mountain range, with some models forecasting snow levels of up to 80cm by the coming weekend.

Earlier Flooding in Spanish Regions

Earlier in the week, the eastern part of Spain and the Balearics experienced serious flooding as the remnants of the former hurricane moved across the Iberian peninsula before stalling over the Balearic waters. The city of Valencia and Ibiza were hardest hit; Gandia registered 356.8mm in 12 hours – more than 10 times its average for the month, while the island had 254 millimeters in 24 hours, its rainiest day since at least the mid-20th century.

Streets, train stations, green spaces, and schools were obliged to cease operations, while one gauge near Aldaia registered 57mm in just 35 minutes, resulting in the La Saleta ravine to burst its banks. The flooding come just shy of a year after destructive flooding in the region in 2024 that killed more than 230 people.

Typhoon Bualoi Affects Vietnam

Tropical storm Bualoi made landfall across central Vietnam this week, causing intense rainfall, powerful gusts, and large swells. In excess of 12 inches of rainfall was measured within a single day on Monday, causing sudden floods and landslides that blocked thousands of routes and cut off communities across northern provinces. Many airplane journeys were disrupted or postponed, and train operations between the capital Hanoi and the southern metropolis were suspended.

Officials confirmed 36 fatalities and 147 people injured, with 21 persons still unaccounted for. More than 210,000 houses were damaged or flooded, with over 51,000 hectares of farmland ruined. National officials has estimated that the typhoon has resulted in more than $350m in property damage this past week.