Context: The extreme conditions in eastern Spain which saw Valencia get a year’s worth of rain in just 8 hours can be blamed on an event locally known as Depresion Aislada en Niveles Altos (DANA).

About DANA

• Depresion Aislada en Niveles Altos (DANA), is commonly referred to as the “cold drop” in English.

• It is a meteorological phenomenon in the western Mediterranean region that brings intense rainfall and flooding.

• The term “DANA” was coined by Spanish meteorologists to specifically describe this weather phenomenon.

Features and Location:

• DANA occurs when cold air from the Polar Regions separates from the polar jet stream and descends over the warmer Mediterranean Sea.

• The contrast between cold air aloft and warm, moist air near the surface causes atmospheric instability, leading to the rapid formation of cumulonimbus clouds and intense thunderstorms.

• It primarily affects Spain and Portugal but can also impact Italy, France, and other areas around the Mediterranean Sea.

• This occurs in autumn and spring, as temperature variations are more pronounced during these seasons.