A rare atmospheric phenomenon has been blamed for the widespread power outage that plunged several European countries into darkness, with Portugal and Spain among the hardest hit.

Sudden Power Outages Linked to Rare Atmospheric Phenomenon

Several European countries were plunged into darkness this week after a rare atmospheric phenomenon triggered widespread power failures, according to reports from national energy authorities. Portugal’s leading energy provider, REN, confirmed that the unusual event disrupted the interconnected European electricity grid, causing cascading outages.

The incident, which primarily affected Portugal and Spain, has sparked major efforts to restore power and stabilize energy systems across the region. Officials warn that it could take days for the network to fully recover.

The Rare Atmospheric Phenomenon That Plunged Europe into Darkness

Portugal’s REN, responsible for managing the country’s national electricity and gas transmission networks, explained that the power outage originated from Spain. Extreme temperature fluctuations in Spain reportedly led to "anomalous oscillations" in very high voltage lines—a rare occurrence known as "induced atmospheric change."

These abnormal oscillations disrupted the synchronization between energy systems, leading to successive failures across the interconnected European grid. "Given the complexity of the problem, it may take up to a week for the network to fully return to normal," REN officials stated.

Spain's Electricity Network Struggles to Recover

In Spain, efforts to stabilize the grid are ongoing. Red Electric CEO Eduardo Prieto told reporters during a press conference that restoring full service could take "between six and ten hours."

The disruption prompted urgent safety advisories across Spanish cities. Madrid’s mayor, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, issued a public appeal asking residents to minimize their movements. "I am asking all residents of Madrid to reduce their movements to the absolute minimum and, if possible, to stay where they are. We want all streets to be clean," he said in a video posted to social media.

Emergency Services on High Alert as Darkness Hits

The blackout caused major disruptions, including the shutdown of traffic lights and the closure of highway tunnels around Madrid. Emergency services were placed on high alert, with the mayor urging citizens to contact emergency services only for "really urgent" situations.

"If emergency calls are not answered, please contact the police and fire station in person, where they will try to resolve any possible emergencies," Martínez-Almeida added, speaking from Madrid's integrated emergency center.

The rare atmospheric phenomenon that plunged several European countries into darkness serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities within Europe’s complex and interconnected power infrastructure. As technicians work around the clock, authorities stress patience as normalcy slowly returns.