The recent flash floods in Valencia are a tangible example of how extreme events linked to climate change are increasing in frequency, intensity, and duration, severely impacting the Mediterranean, a true climate "hotspot." In just a few hours, torrential rains delivered up to 490 mm of water—equivalent to an entire year’s rainfall—saturating the ground and overwhelming drainage systems. This event was fueled by the phenomenon known as DANA (Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos), where cold air at high altitudes meets warmer air below, creating intense and persistent thunderstorms.

The extreme heat in the Mediterranean, with record-breaking surface temperatures, contributed to amplifying the storm's power. Higher sea temperatures led to more intense evaporation, resulting in an atmosphere laden with moisture, ready to release as intense rainfall. This process, where part of the thermal energy is converted into kinetic energy, intensifies not only the rainfall but also the winds associated with the storm, making the impact even more devastating.