Storms, snow and other natural hazardsArticle 4 of 6 · 7 min read
Hail and summer thunderstorms: damage and safety
Explains where and when damaging hail and thunderstorms hit Spain, how to protect your car and roof, how insurance treats hail, and how to stay safe during a storm. For anyone living in or moving to Spain, especially inland and Mediterranean areas.
Terms used
- DANA — A DANA is an autumn weather system that brings heavy rain, large hail and flooding, especially to the Mediterranean coast.
- Multirriesgo del hogar — The multirriesgo del hogar is a standard home insurance policy covering several risks, including weather events such as hail.
- Todo riesgo — Todo riesgo is comprehensive car insurance, which covers hail damage to your vehicle.
- Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros — The Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros is a state body that pays for extraordinary risks, such as floods, when the policy includes them.
Key rules
- Season: Hail and storms peak from May to September, mostly inland and in the north-east.
- Car insurance: Third-party-only car insurance does not pay for hail damage.
- Shelter: In a storm, go into a building or a car with the windows closed, never under a lone tree.
- After thunder: Wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before going outside.
- Emergencies: Call 112 in an emergency.
When and where hail and storms hit
Damaging hail and strong thunderstorms are mainly a summer and autumn risk, and they hit inland areas and the Mediterranean hinterland hardest. The main season runs from late spring to early autumn, with a peak from May to September.
The most exposed areas are the north-east and the interior:
- The Ebro valley and the Pyrenees foothills, in Aragón and Catalonia (including Lleida and Girona).
- The Iberian mountain range, including Teruel, Soria and Cuenca.
- Parts of Castilla y León and Castilla-La Mancha.
- Valencia and Murcia.
Large hail also comes with autumn storms on the Mediterranean coast. These are often called DANA.
The comparison below shows how hail fits with Spain's other severe weather.
Protect your car
Park in a garage or covered parking as soon as the weather service or an ES-Alert phone message warns of storms or hail. If you have no cover, a padded hail cover or thick blankets can help for a short time. Don't park under trees.
If hail does damage your car, take photos before you move it or repair it. You will need them for the insurance claim.
Protect your roof and home
Check your roof before the season starts. Look at tiles, skylights and solar panels. Reinforce weak parts, or choose impact-resistant materials when you replace them. Keep gutters clear, and close shutters when a storm is coming. Take photos of any damage for your insurer.
What insurance pays
- Car: Third-party-only insurance does not pay for hail damage. Comprehensive cover (todo riesgo) does. So does a third-party-extended policy that includes "lunas" (glass) and "fenómenos atmosféricos" (weather events).
- Home: A standard multirriesgo del hogar policy normally covers hail as a weather event. It is subject to conditions, such as wind-speed or intensity thresholds, so read your policy.
- Extraordinary events: The Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros only steps in for extraordinary risks, such as floods, tornadoes and extraordinary storms. It applies only if your policy includes that cover and your insurer does not pay. Ordinary hail is a matter for your private insurer.
Excesses and wording differ by insurer, so ask yours before the season.
Stay safe in a thunderstorm
Go into a building, or into a car with the windows closed. If you are outdoors with no shelter, crouch low with your feet together. Don't lie flat.
Stay away from open ground, hilltops, water, beaches, lone trees, metal fences and poles. Don't cycle or swim. Never cross flooded roads or streams.
Indoors, unplug electrical appliances. Avoid landline phones and the shower. In an emergency, call 112.
Wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before going outside.
The checklist, warnings and questions below cover the same steps in short form.
Severe weather types compared: where, when and what to do
The hazard that matters depends on where you live and the time of year. Find your region in the table, then follow the first response.
Region and season matrix
| Region | Main hazard | When | First response |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mediterranean coast (Catalonia, Valencia, Murcia, Andalusia's east coast, Balearic Islands) | Sudden heavy rain and flash floods | Late summer to autumn, mostly September to November | Move to higher ground and stay out of ravines, underpasses and car parks. Never drive or walk through floodwater. Follow phone alerts and call 112 if you are in danger. |
| Atlantic and northern coast (Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, Basque Country) | Winter storms, strong wind, rough seas | Autumn to early spring | Stay away from the shore and cliffs. Secure balcony items and avoid wooded areas and coastal paths during wind warnings. |
| Interior plateau and Ebro valley (Madrid, Castilla, Aragon, Navarra) | Thunderstorms and hail | Late spring to early autumn, mostly afternoons and evenings | Go indoors and park under cover if you can. Stay away from windows and open ground. |
| Mountains (Pyrenees, Sierra Nevada, Cantabrian range, central ranges) | Heavy snow, ice, avalanches | Late autumn to spring | Check the road and the forecast before you travel. Carry chains and stay off marked-closed slopes and passes. |
| Cold inland towns (north of the plateau, high-altitude areas) | Occasional heavy snowfall that blocks roads | Winter | Stock food, water and medicines. Avoid non-essential driving and keep your phone charged. |
| Southeast and south (Murcia, Almería, Granada) | Earthquakes | Any time of year | Drop to the ground, cover your head and neck, and hold on under sturdy furniture. Stay away from windows. Do not run outside while the ground is shaking. |
| Canary Islands | Volcanic activity and earthquakes; occasional strong wind and heavy rain | Any time of year for volcanic activity; autumn and winter for storms | Follow local civil protection instructions. If told to evacuate, go straight away with documents and medicines. |
How to use the matrix
- Warnings come in colours. Yellow means be aware, orange means be prepared to change plans, and red means stay put and avoid all non-essential travel. Check the warnings for your area each morning in storm season.
- Phone alerts matter. Spain sends emergency alerts to phones in a danger area. Keep them switched on and follow the instruction in the message.
- 112 is the emergency number across Spain. Use it when life or safety is at risk.
- Know your local risk before you rent or buy. Ask the landlord or agent whether the street or building has flooded before, and check your town hall's civil protection page for flood and evacuation maps.
What to do whatever the hazard
- Keep a small bag with documents, medicines, a torch, a power bank and water.
- Know two routes out of your home or area.
- Follow instructions from local police and civil protection over advice you see on social media.
Details of insurance cover and what to do after damage are on other pages of this guide.
Checklist
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Park your car in a garage or covered parking when a storm or hail warning is issued.
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Cover your car with a padded hail cover or thick blankets if you have no covered parking.
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Avoid parking under trees.
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Take shelter in a building or a car with the windows closed when thunder starts.
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Unplug electrical appliances and stay off landline phones and out of the shower during the storm.
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Photograph any damage to your car or home for your insurance claim.
What to watch out for
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Open ground and lone trees are dangerous in thunderstorms: Lightning is most likely to strike open spaces, hilltops, water, beaches, lone trees, metal fences and poles. Cycling and swimming are also risky. Get into a building or a car with the windows closed. If you are stuck outdoors, crouch low with your feet together and do not lie flat. Call 112 in an emergency.
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Flooded roads and streams: Storm water can make roads and streams deadly, even when they look shallow. Never cross a flooded road or stream. Turn back and find another route.
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Third-party-only car insurance leaves hail damage unpaid: Hail can dent a car's body and break its glass, and third-party-only insurance does not pay for it. Check whether your policy is comprehensive (todo riesgo) or third-party-extended with 'lunas' and 'fenómenos atmosféricos' cover before the storm season.
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Home hail cover has conditions: Your multi-risk home policy normally covers hail, but it can set wind-speed or intensity conditions and an excess. Read those conditions now and keep photos of any damage for your claim.
Frequently asked questions
Does third-party-only car insurance cover hail damage?
No, third-party-only car insurance does not cover hail damage to your own car.
Does home insurance pay for hail damage to my roof?
Yes, a standard multi-risk home policy (multirriesgo del hogar) normally covers hail damage as an atmospheric event, within its terms and any wind-speed or intensity conditions.
Which months and areas see the most damaging hail in Spain?
Damaging hail is most frequent from May to September, in the north-east and inland areas. That includes the Ebro valley, the Pyrenees foothills, Teruel, Soria, Cuenca, Valencia and Murcia.
More in Storms, snow and other natural hazards
- Coastal storms, storm surge and erosion on Spain's coasts
- Snow and cold waves: what to do when Spain freezes
- Strong winds and named storms in Spain
- Earthquakes and landslides in Spain: how real is the risk?
- Living with volcanic risk in the Canary Islands
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