Storm DANA Alice washes Spain away: Why and what is it?

A crisis situation has developed on Spain's Mediterranean coast due to the powerful DANA "Alice," which struck Catalonia, Valencia, and the Balearic Islands. The storm brought unprecedented torrential rainfall to parts of Spain's Mediterranean coast, particularly Tarragona and the Balearic Islands. In Catalonia, where rainfall reached 272 mm in the province of Tarragona, at least 18 people were injured, one of whom is in serious condition.
A red (extreme) warning has been issued for the southern part of the province of Valencia, where up to 120 mm of rain fell per square meter. Due to the severe weather, classes have been cancelled at 238 schools in Catalonia, directly affecting 59,000 students.
Following heavy rainfall, water flooded the ground floors of some residential buildings, shops, and underground parking garages. In some areas, the water level rose so high that cars parked on the street were almost completely submerged. Authorities advised residents of the affected regions to stay indoors if possible, preferably on higher floors. Schools have cancelled classes, rail services have been suspended, and roads have been closed.
The airport on Ibiza has suspended operations after water flooded its terminals, causing a short circuit. Meteorologists predict continued weather conditions in the coming days, with precipitation of up to 250-300 mm. Rescue services have warned that heavy equipment will be needed to remove washed-out cars, trees, and road structures. There have been no reports of casualties so far.

A DANA (from the Spanish "Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos") is a weather phenomenon, a storm that forms at high levels of the atmosphere and can cause torrential rain and hail. In other words, it is a low-pressure system that develops in the middle and upper layers of the troposphere. It occurs when cold air in the upper atmosphere moves over warmer air masses near the surface.
Some characteristics of a DANA storm:
it can remain in one place for a long time, "hovering" over a certain area;
it is accompanied by severe thunderstorms and significant precipitation, which can cause flooding and landslides;
a drop in temperature and significant fluctuations in atmospheric pressure are often observed during a DANA.
DANA Alice will continue to affect eastern Spain and the Balearic Islands until the end of the week, but forecasters predict some improvement in weather starting on Tuesday.