Spanish weather agency AEMET issued its highest red alert for Wednesday in the Ronda and Grazalema areas of the southern region of Andalusia. It warned that Storm Leonardo posed an "extraordinary danger" that could trigger floods and landslides.

Andalusia's regional government leader Juanma Moreno pleaded for "utmost caution" and "common sense" from residents.

Soldiers deployed to the region to assist the rescue services, while all Andalusian schools will be closed on Wednesday apart from in the region's easternmost province of Almeria.

In Portugal, weather agency IPMA put the entire coast under orange alert on Tuesday as Leonardo closed in over the Atlantic Ocean.

Northern and central regions of the country were under alert for expected heavy snowfall, with strong winds and precipitation due to continue until Saturday.

A string of storms have lashed Portugal in recent weeks. Storm Kristin killed five people and injured around 400 last week, particularly affecting the central region of Leiria.

Three other people died after falling during roof repair work, while a fourth person suffered fatal carbon monoxide poisoning from an electricity generator.

Portugal's government has approved a 2.5 billion euros ($3 billion) reconstruction plan, with tens of thousands of homes still cut off from the power grid.

Scientists say human-driven climate change is making extreme weather events such as storms and heatwaves longer, more frequent and more intense.

In October 2024, Spain suffered its deadliest floods in decades with more than 230 people killed, mostly in the eastern region of Valencia.