In early 2026, a series of catastrophic storms, described by researchers as an "atmospheric machine-gun," transformed parts of the Mediterranean into a landscape of tragedy. These events—most notably Cyclone Harry and Storm Leonardo—have combined record-breaking meteorological force with critical humanitarian and infrastructure vulnerabilities.

 

‘A devastating force’: how recent Mediterranean storms turned to tragedies

In early 2026, a series of catastrophic storms, described by researchers as an "atmospheric machine-gun," transformed parts of the Mediterranean into a landscape of tragedy. These events—most notably Cyclone Harry and Storm Leonardo—have combined record-breaking meteorological force with critical humanitarian and infrastructure vulnerabilities.

 

Recent Devastating Storms (2025–2026)

Cyclone Harry (January 2026): Confirmed as the most powerful storm ever recorded in Maltese waters, it produced a record 13.1-metre wave. The storm resulted in an estimated 1,000 migrants feared dead or missing in the central Mediterranean after numerous unseaworthy vessels sank.

Storm Leonardo (February 2026): Followed immediately by Storm Kristin, this system dropped a year's worth of rain in just a fortnight in parts of Spain, such as Grazalema. The saturated soil led to flash floods that killed at least 11 people in Portugal.

Storm Alessio (September 2025): The first named storm of the 2025–26 season caused fatal flash floods in Italy and Spain, where a father and son were swept away.

Factors Turning Storms into Tragedies

Record Intensity & Duration: Recent storms have lasted significantly longer than historical norms. Cyclone Harry maintained extreme conditions for nearly 40 hours, far exceeding previous events of similar wind strength.

"Saturated" Infrastructure: Successive storms hit regions like Andalusia and Portugal where the soil was already unable to drain, causing rivers to burst and aquifers to overload.

Humanitarian Vulnerability: Severe weather has increasingly coincided with high-risk migration routes. The lack of safe routes and a reduction in NGO rescue operations—due to government restrictions—have left hundreds of people without aid during storms.

Climate Change "Loading the Chamber": Analysis from the World Weather Attribution (WWA) indicates that human-induced warming made the early 2026 rainfall 11% to 36% more intense than it would have been in the past.

Urban Exposure: Tourism-driven development into floodplains and the expansion of informal settlements in North Africa have placed more people in the direct path of "dangerous disasters".

Key Human & Economic Toll

Migration Fatalities: Since January 1, 2026, more than 606 people have been confirmed dead or missing at sea, the deadliest start to a year since records began in 2014.

Economic Losses: Previous events like Storm Daniel (2023) caused over €2.5 billion in damage in Greece alone, setting a precedent for the multi-billion euro impacts seen in 2025–2026.