Severe thunderstorms swept across the Valencia region on Wednesday, unleashing wind gusts of up to 149 km/h in Sumacàrcer and tearing the roof from the Santa Catalina church in Alzira. No injuries were reported in the collapse.
The storms, described as among the most intense wet microbursts recorded in Spain, with power comparable to an EF1 tornado, brought rapid temperature drops of nearly 20 degrees in areas like Polinyà de Xúquer. Heavy rainfall reached 42.2 litres per square metre in Alzira, while winds of 143 km/h battered the town. The Consorcio Provincial de Bomberos handled more than 50 wind-related incidents across the Ribera district.
Transport was disrupted after a fallen tree blocked rail lines between Alzira and La Pobla Llarga, delaying commuter and long-distance trains. In Tavernes de Valldigna, a lightning strike ignited a wildfire, drawing aerial and ground firefighting units. The storms followed a day in which temperatures had reached 44°C in the region.