Analysis and numerical simulation of the Exceptional Rainfall Event over the Iberian Peninsula between October 28 and November 4, 2024

At the end of October 2024, a cut-off low (DANA in Spanish) became completely displaced from the basic westerly current. Its interaction with local topography, combined with a strong inflow of moisture from the Mediterranean Sea, triggered one of the most intense weather events in recent Spanish history. Between October 28 and November 4, exceptionally heavy and persistent rainfall was recorded across several provinces. The most severe day was October 29, when multiple national rainfall records were broken at the Turís weather station, including a total of 581 l/m2 in just four hours.

The aim of this study is to reconstruct the episode using both observational data and numerical simulations, with special focus on October 29. We defined the study area over the Segura Basin and the Valencian Community. We analysed the main meteorological structures that developed during the day, their evolution, and how they were reflected in different key weather variables. Finally, the study focuses on the Turís supercell, which produced the most extreme rainfall and is considered the most significant convective structure of the entire episode.