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UK holidaymakers in Spain have been warned to brace for torrential rain and thunderstorms after the country's weather agency issued a rare 'extreme risk' red alert. The alert - the highest level possible - covers parts of Andalusia, including Huelva and the Gulf of Cádiz, where up to 120mm of rain is expected to fall in just 12 hours. Aemet, the national weather agency in Spain, has said rainfall could reach 60mm in a single hour, posing a serious risk of flash flooding. The red alert is in place between 12pm and 2pm local time on Wednesday (October 29), with forecasters warning of persistent and locally very heavy rain, thunderstorms, and even the chance of waterspouts or small tornadoes forming along the southern coast. The Huelva Coast, Andévalo and Condado regions are set to be the worst hit, but 17 amber rain warnings and dozens of yellow alerts for rain, wind and storms have also been issued across much of the country. Holiday hotspots across southern Spain, including areas popular with UK tourists such as Seville, Cadiz, Malaga and Costa de la Luz, could be impacted by the extreme weather conditions. Aemet said the severe conditions are caused by a deep area of low pressure moving across the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula, bringing unstable air and heavy downpours. The agency warned that the combination of saturated ground and intense rainfall could lead to dangerous flooding in some areas. Aemat said in a translated forecast: "Strong winds and occasionally very strong gusts are expected along the coast of the Gulf of Cádiz and in the southwest quadrant." It added: "Locally heavy rain and thunderstorms are likely across large areas of the southwest quadrant of the Peninsula, as well as in the Strait of Gibraltar area and southern Andalusia, where significant accumulations are possible. "A small waterspout or tornado is possible along the coasts of the Gulf of Cádiz and in the interior of Huelva and Cádiz provinces, potentially extending into the Guadalquivir Valley." Travellers are advised to check local forecasts and transport updates before travel, as well as following any guidance from local authorities. The red alert is expected to be lifted later on Wednesday as the worst of the weather moved eastwards, but unsettled conditions are likely to continue across northwestern and southeastern parts of the country into Thursday (October 30).
