29 Apr 2025

Unexplained Power Outage Across Iberia Raises Questions About Rare Weather Phenomena

Tired Earth

By The Editorial Board

Climate-linked disruptions suspected after massive blackout hits Spain, Portugal, and parts of France.

A rare atmospheric disturbance may have destabilized the European power grid, according to preliminary assessments.

A massive and unprecedented power outage struck Spain, Portugal, and parts of southern France on Monday, causing widespread disruption to daily life, airport operations, and public transport systems. Telecommunications companies and hospitals also reported significant technical issues. Although multiple theories have been proposed, the exact cause of the outage remains unconfirmed, with some experts pointing to climate change as a potential underlying factor.

Portugal’s national electricity operator, REN, attributed the blackout to what it described as a “rare weather phenomenon”, although scientific confirmation is still pending. The company cited abrupt temperature shifts in Spain, which triggered "abnormal oscillations" in high-voltage transmission lines, ultimately disrupting synchronization across Europe’s interconnected power grid.

REN further noted that this atmospheric event—classified as an “induced weather disturbance”—destabilized the grid and caused a cascade of technical failures.

Quoted by European media, Professor Solomon Brown, a specialist in power systems at the University of Sheffield, explained that such disturbances can “slightly alter the local electromagnetic field,” much like a solar flare, potentially disrupting electricity flows and requiring urgent corrective measures.

While such phenomena are rare, their likelihood is increasing in a world where climate change is intensifying the frequency and severity of extreme weather patterns.

The reason behind the widespread power outage in Portugal and Spain is not yet known (Anadolu Agency)

Recent research published in Nature Communications in April 2025 supports the climate-weather-electricity link. The international study analyzed temperature data from 1961 to 2023 and found that over 60% of observed regions—including Western Europe—experienced a marked rise in rapid temperature fluctuations.

These sudden shifts between heat and cold are not only meteorologically abnormal but also have destructive effects on ecosystems, agriculture, human health, and critical infrastructure such as power grids. Rapid changes in temperature exert immense stress on transmission lines, increasing the risk of grid instabilities like those observed in Spain.

Complicating matters, Portugal’s REN confirmed that electricity demand in Spain dropped by 50% within hours of the disruption, highlighting how extreme weather can destabilize the supply-demand balance.

While atmospheric disturbances are currently the leading hypothesis, other possibilities—including cyberattacks or technical failures—have not been ruled out. However, no concrete evidence of sabotage has emerged so far.

Source : Aljazeera