Storms, snow and other natural hazards

It is for anyone considering, planning or carrying out a move to Spain. You will learn which of these hazards are real where you live, or where you plan to live, and what to do about each one. Most are regional. A hazard that matters on the Murcia coast may not matter in Madrid, and the reverse is also true.

Start with "Hail and summer thunderstorms: damage and safety". It covers hazards that can reach most parts of the country, and it shows how to protect your car, your roof and yourself.

After that, pick the pages that match your location:

• On the coast, read "Coastal storms, storm surge and erosion on Spain's coasts".
• In the interior or the mountains, read "Snow and cold waves: what to do when Spain freezes".
• For Atlantic storms and local winds, read "Strong winds and named storms in Spain".
• For Murcia, Granada, the Pyrenees, cliffs or mountain roads, read "Earthquakes and landslides in Spain: how real is the risk?".
• For the Canary Islands, read "Living with volcanic risk in the Canary Islands".

Floods and DANA, heating and carbon monoxide, and driving rules each have their own topics.

Key rules

• After thunder: Wait about 30 minutes after the last thunder before going outside.
• Emergency supplies: Keep about 2 to 3 litres of water per person per day and food that needs no cooking for at least 72 hours.
• Beach ownership: Beaches, dunes and the storm-wave shore are public and cannot be privately owned.
• Protection zone: Within 100 m of the shore (20 m in some older urban land), new building is restricted and you may not extend or rebuild.
• Warnings: Check the colour-coded warning for your exact zone, because snow and cold thresholds differ by area.
• Travel: Authorities advise staying home in heavy snow, as roads close and chains are required.

Storms, snow and other natural hazards: questions that cross several articles

Do weather warning colours mean the same thing for wind, snow and cold?

Yes, the same four colours are used for every kind of weather warning, but the trigger level for each colour is set separately for each phenomenon and each warning zone. Yellow means risk for specific activities or exposed people, orange means significant danger, and red means extreme danger. Warnings cover the next 24 to 72 hours. For wind, read Strong winds and named storms in Spain; for snow and frost, read Snow and cold waves: what to do when Spain freezes.

Is a snow or wind warning level the same everywhere in Spain?

No, warning levels are set by zone, so the same snowfall or gust can be yellow in one place and nothing in another. Low-lying areas have lower snow thresholds than mountains, and exposed coastal and mountain areas have higher wind thresholds than inland ones.

Will my home insurance cover storm, flood or earthquake damage near the coast?

Standard home insurance generally excludes earthquakes and landslides, but the Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros, a state body for extraordinary risks, covers events such as earthquakes, extraordinary floods and atypical cyclonic storms. This works only if your policy includes the Consorcio surcharge and premiums are paid, and new policies usually have a 1 month waiting period. Landslides are covered only when caused by an extraordinary event. Read Earthquakes and landslides in Spain: how real is the risk? and Coastal storms, storm surge and erosion on Spain's coasts.

What should I check before buying a home close to the sea?

Check both the storm and flood exposure of the area and the Ley de Costas rules for the plot. The beach and shore cannot be privately owned, and land behind it has a 100 m protection zone (20 m in urban land consolidated by 1988) where building is restricted. Ask for a Costas report, look for notes about the deslinde (boundary marking) in the land registry, and read Coastal storms, storm surge and erosion on Spain's coasts.