By Andrei Khalip, Inti Landauro (Reuters) -Catastrophic flash floods that have killed at least 217 people in Spain are caused by a destructive weather system in which cold and warm air meet and produce powerful rain clouds,

Climate scientists and meteorologists say the immediate cause of the flooding in Spain is a DANA, a cut-off lower pressure storm system that migrated from an unusually wavy and stalled jet stream.

Storm Cut Off From The Jet Stream Floods Spain

In a matter of minutes, flash floods caused by heavy downpours in eastern Spain swept away everything in their path. With no time to react, people were trapped in vehicles, homes and businesses. Many died and thousands saw livelihoods shattered.