Valencian president Carlos Mazón has once again taken aim at AEMET, accusing the agency of mismanaging storm warnings after downgrading a red alert to orange just hours before Pilar de la Horadada experienced 153 litres of rain in 24 hours.
The controversial downgrade, Mazón claims, was based on observation rather than forecasting, leaving residents and authorities exposed during one of the heaviest downpours in the region.
AEMET maintains that the recorded rainfall never reached red-alert thresholds, but critics argue that confusing and poorly communicated alerts risked public safety.
Mazón denounced AEMET arguing that the agency’s abrupt changes in warning levels confused both authorities and the public. He pointed out that the most intense rainfall occurred precisely when AEMET had withdrawn the red alert, suggesting the agency’s misjudgement could have led residents to underestimate the risk.
This latest dispute follows the Valencia flooding tragedy on October 29, when the Generalitat was accused of downplaying AEMET’s early red alert, contributing to delayed emergency responses. Now, Mazón insists that AEMET’s failure lies in the lack of proactive forecasting and inconsistent communication — activating or withdrawing warnings without clear explanation.
AEMET, however, has defended its decision, stating that rainfall levels never reached the red alert thresholds — 90 litres per hour or 180 litres in 12 hours. In Pilar de la Horadada, data showed 72 litres in two hours and 135 in 12 hours, placing it within the orange warning range (moderate to significant risk). The agency maintained that “at no time” were red-level intensities reached, and that its downgrade at 6:00 p.m. was technically justified.
Nevertheless, the public perception of risk remains central to the controversy. Critics argue that AEMET’s abrupt downgrade may have sent the wrong message, suggesting that danger had passed while flooding and evacuations were still taking place. The communication gap between forecast accuracy and public understanding, they say, undermines trust in official warnings.
Adding to the criticism, Cullera’s mayor, Jordi Mayor, also expressed frustration over AEMET’s shifting alerts, which he said “did not reflect the reality on the ground.” Although he later tempered his remarks, the episode has exposed growing tensions between regional leaders and the national weather agency.
As Mazón continues his campaign for greater regional control over meteorological warnings, the AEMET controversy highlights the urgent need for clearer forecasting protocols and communication strategies to restore confidence in Spain’s weather alert system.
