Spain & Portugal Storm: New Weather Warning

In preparation for the storm “Marta”, more than 26,500 rescuers have been deployed in Portugal. In Portugal, three municipalities have been postponed until next week’s voting in the second round of the presidential election, scheduled for Sunday, due to the storm.

Both countries have issued warnings of possible floods and landslides.

Portugal’s civil protection agency warned that the weather forecast was of great concern. Meteorologists predict that wind gusts can reach 110 kilometers per hour (30.5 meters per second) on the coast of Portugal.

Storm Leonardo has reportedly brought heavy rainfall to Spain and Portugal this week, blocking roads and railways and leaving thousands of households without power.

Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, who visited flood-affected areas on Friday, said preliminary estimates put the damage at more than four billion euros.

When Leonardo hit Portugal, the country had not yet recovered from the previous storm, Cristina, which killed five people, injured hundreds and left tens of thousands without power.