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Portugal and Spain are once more battling the aftermath of extensive flooding after Tempest Claudia unleashed torrential downpours and strong winds over the past seven days.

Claudia's Origin and Path

The storm system formed from a region of depressed atmospheric pressure that had earlier ushered in unseasonably early chilly and snowy weather through eastern parts of Canada and the American north-east during the beginning of the eleventh month.

Claudia moved eastward across the Atlantic during the second weekend of November before losing momentum and stopping to the northwestern area of the Spanish and Portuguese landmass, caught in the trough of an increasingly amplified air current.

Consequences for Iberia

The northwestern Spanish region of Galicia was initially impacted, with a substantial 80 to 150 millimetres of rain falling along its west coast in just one full day up to Wednesday evening as a slow-moving band of rain pushed across the western sectors of the peninsula.

More downpours and stormy weather on Thursday last week brought flooding to Portuguese localities where a senior pair perished in the capital Lisbon after floodwaters from the swollen Tagus invaded their residence as they rested.

Stormy conditions lasted through the weekend, with a violent whirlwind ripping through a campsite and a close-by inn in Albufeira in the south in the Algarve region on Saturday, fatally injuring an 85-year-old British woman and wounding 28 individuals.

Extended Consequences across the European continent

Claudia had more extensive impacts across western Europe. By drawing warm air from the subtropical zones, the system contributed to thermometers climbing in south-west France to 85.6 degrees Fahrenheit, the country's highest recorded November temperature.

By last Friday, this hot and moist atmospheric body met a cold air mass across more northern parts of the continent, creating a rainfall belt stretching from Ireland's west to the Russian Federation.

In the United Kingdom, this stationary front of rain delivered very high rainfall totals, causing severe flooding in the principality of Wales.

As this weather phenomenon continues to weaken in the coming days, the chilly atmospheric system will move towards the south, delivering to Europe its premier experience of winter.

Parallel Events in California, USA

The Golden State experienced a so-called atmospheric river the previous week, causing torrential rain and powerful winds that resulted in rapid flooding and debris flows in regions scarred by wildfires earlier this year.

More than 50mm of rain was recorded in southern California on Friday, with a additional two inches broadly over the state on Saturday.

In excess of 100 millimetres of rain was deposited on shoreline regions of southern California in total, attaining eight inches in total in spots on high ground.

Such a weather system is a plume of tropical, saturated air coming from the tropical or subtropical regions.

Burn scar areas including the Pacific Palisades area and the town of Altadena suffered the worst of the rapid inundations and earth movements, prompting evacuations.

Elsewhere in California, a man in his seventies passed away after his automobile was washed off a flooded bridge, and a young girl aged seven and her parent were dragged into the Pacific by large waves on the California's Central Coast.