Storm Charles brought severe weather to southern Europe and parts of Canada this week, marked by intense rainfall and powerful south-westerly winds. The system initially struck the Portuguese island of Madeira before moving to the Iberian mainland on November 11. Funchal airport recorded a wind gust reaching 84.5mph (136 km/h) alongside 355mm of rainfall within a 12-hour period. The severe conditions triggered widespread flooding across Spain and Portugal.
The severe weather severely disrupted aviation hubs in the region. Lisbon cancelled 183 flights on Wednesday, representing approximately one-third of its usual daily volume, while Madrid Barajas airport reported 155 cancelled flights. Following the impacts in the Iberian Peninsula, the storm system tracked northeastward into southern France and northern Italy, causing notable flooding in Cannes.
More details are expected as the story develops.
