Hurricane Kirk Downgraded to Storm, Hits Galicia with Devastating Force
Hurricane Kirk, now downgraded to a storm, is unleashing its fury on Galicia this Wednesday. The State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has issued a special warning for adverse weather conditions, forecasting very strong winds from the south and southwest, which are expected to reach levels eight or nine on the Beaufort scale. Along the Galician coast, waves could rise up to seven meters.
Since Tuesday afternoon, winds have intensified, primarily affecting Galicia, the Cantabrian Mountains, and the northern Iberian system. The heavy precipitation has spread across the northwestern part of the peninsula, with particularly intense rainfall in western Galicia, accumulating more than 120 liters per square meter over the past 24 hours.
As the storm's center approaches the Galician coast and the Cantabrian Sea, a strong storm is expected to impact the Atlantic coasts of Galicia from early Wednesday. Throughout the day, the storm will extend to the remainder of the Cantabrian coast, with westerly winds and combined waves reaching up to five meters.
In eastern Cantabria, a sudden shift in wind to the northwest has intensified the storm, leading to a galerna in the afternoon. Wind gusts are anticipated to hit 100 km/h in Galicia, while the Cantabrian area could experience gusts exceeding 120 km/h, particularly in the Cantabrian Mountains and higher elevations of northern Galicia and the western Pyrenees.
Although precipitation is expected to shift eastward and lose strength, significant accumulations will continue in Galicia, compounding previous amounts from earlier weather events. This increase in rainfall heightens the risks of river floods and landslides.
In response to the storm, the Xunta has activated an orange alert for both wind and rain, as well as for coastal storms along the entire Galician coastline. Emergency services are on high alert, having notified municipalities, provincial councils, and Civil Protection volunteer groups about the looming threat. A red alert has been issued for wind conditions on the Rías Baixas coast, with Meteogalicia indicating that the area will face the highest alert level between 6:00 and 9:00 on Wednesday, featuring southward winds of force 8-9 in open sea.
Inland areas will also remain under an orange wind alert, with gusts reaching up to 100 km/h, combined with substantial wave action and precipitation accumulations affecting the Costa da Morte.
Local authorities have proactively suspended outdoor activities in anticipation of the storm's arrival. The Lugo City Council announced the cancellation of outdoor events for the San Froilán festival, alongside the closing of parks and open sports facilities. Other municipalities, such as Ferrol, Pontevedra, Santiago de Compostela, and A Coruña, have followed suit, prohibiting access to parks. Additionally, the Provincial Council of Pontevedra has shuttered the Soutomaior and Sabroso castles due to the impending conditions.
In the face of these adverse weather forecasts, Air Europa has canceled a dozen flights across the Iberian Peninsula, impacting routes between Madrid and various northern destinations, including Bilbao, Vigo, A Coruña, and Porto. Affected passengers are being given the option to reschedule their flights to a date before October 30, 2024, or choose to retain their ticket value for future purchases.
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