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Portugal and Spain are once more dealing with the consequences of extensive flooding in the wake of Tempest Claudia delivered torrential downpours and powerful gusts over the past seven days.

The Storm's Origin and Path

This weather system originated from an area of low pressure that had previously driven unseasonably early chilly and snowy weather through the eastern regions of Canada and the north-eastern United States during the beginning of the eleventh month.

The system tracked eastwards across the Atlantic Ocean during the second weekend of November before decelerating and halting to the northwestern area of the Iberian peninsula, trapped within a trough of an ever more meandering atmospheric river.

Impact on Spain and Portugal

Spain's Galicia area in the northwest was initially impacted, with 80-150mm of rain pouring down along its western coastline in just one full day up to Wednesday evening as a slow-moving band of rain pushed across western parts of the region.

More downpours and stormy weather on Thursday led to floods to Portuguese localities where a senior pair died in the city of Lisbon after floodwaters from the swollen Tagus flooded their dwelling as they slept.

Unsettled atmospheric states lasted through the weekend, with a violent whirlwind tearing through a camping ground and a nearby hotel in Albufeira in southern Portugal on Saturday, killing an British woman aged 85 and injuring 28 people.

Wider Effects across Europe

Claudia had wider effects across Europe's western part. By pulling tropical air from the subtropics, the system contributed to thermometers climbing in southwestern France to nearly 30 degrees Celsius, the state's maximum ever autumn temperature.

By Friday, this hot and moist atmospheric body clashed with a chilly atmospheric body across more northern parts of Europe, creating a rainfall belt stretching from western Ireland to Russia.

In the Britain, this halting system of rain brought very high rainfall totals, causing major inundations in Wales.

As the storm continues to weaken early this week, the chilly atmospheric system will advance southward, providing the continent its premier experience of winter.

Simultaneous Occurrences in California

California encountered a so-called atmospheric river recently, bringing intense precipitation and strong winds that resulted in flash flooding and debris flows in areas affected by blazes earlier this year.

More than 50mm of rain was recorded in the southern region of the state on last Friday, with a further 50mm broadly over the state on Saturday last.

More than 100mm of rain fell over coastal areas of southern California in all, reaching eight inches in total in spots on high ground.

An atmospheric river is a plume of warm, moist air originating from the tropical or subtropical regions.

Locations with fire damage including the Pacific Palisades area and Altadena region suffered the worst of the sudden floods and earth movements, prompting evacuations.

Across California, a elderly male died after his car was carried away from a submerged bridge, and a child of seven years and her dad were pulled into the Pacific by large waves on the Central Coast.