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As storms and tropical storms have swirled in the Atlantic Ocean and eastern Pacific, Europe has encountered severe weather of its own. A low-pressure system that formed over the Mediterranean midweek drifted northeast into the Balkan region on Thursday morning, producing extensive rain showers, electrical storms and lengthy rainfall.

Continuing Rainfall and Serious Warnings

This weather pattern is predicted to continue into Friday, with forecasting tools showing two-day accumulations of 80-130mm of rainfall across much of the Balkan Peninsula. Red weather warnings were declared for Serbia, southwestern Romania, Greece's northeast, and the Dodecanese and North Aegean Islands, underscoring the risk of floods and danger to residents. High winds also shut down classes on Zakynthos in the Ionian archipelago.

Cold Air Adds Severity

Cold air pulled in from Eastern European regions increased the seriousness, generating heavy snowfall across the Dinaric Alps, with several predictions predicting depths of up to 80cm by the weekend's end.

Earlier Inundation in Spanish Regions

Earlier in the week, Spain's eastern coast and the Balearic Islands endured devastating floods as the remnants of the former hurricane moved across the Iberian peninsula before coming to a halt over the nearby sea. The city of Valencia and Ibiza were hardest hit; Gandia measured 356.8mm in 12 hours – significantly exceeding its average for the month, while Ibiza had 10 inches in 24 hours, its rainiest day since at least 1952.

Highways, transit hubs, green spaces, and schools were obliged to cease operations, while a rain gauge near the area of Aldaia measured over two inches in just 35 minutes, leading to the La Saleta waterway to flood. The floods come almost a year after devastating flooding in the region in 2024 that killed over 230 individuals.

Storm Bualoi Affects Vietnam

Tropical storm Bualoi made landfall across Vietnam's central region this week, bringing torrential rain, high winds, and large swells. Over 300 millimeters of rain was recorded within a 24-hour period on Monday morning, causing sudden floods and landslides that blocked thousands of routes and cut off villages across northern provinces. Dozens of flights were halted or rescheduled, and railway services between the capital Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City were suspended.

There have been 36 lives lost and 147 injuries, with 21 individuals still lost. Hundreds of thousands of residences were harmed or submerged, with in excess of 126,000 acres of farmland ruined. The Vietnamese authorities has estimated that Bualoi has caused over $350 million in property damage this past week.