Rescuers search for woman swept away by river as Spain and Portugal battle Storm Leonardo

MADRID (AP) — A woman in Spain who was swept up by a swollen river remained missing Friday as Storm Leonardo pummelled the Iberian Peninsula.

The woman, 45, was reported missing after she fell into a river in the country's southern Malaga province on Wednesday while trying to rescue her dog. Air and canine units have been deployed to find her, Spanish police and local authorities said Friday.

The ongoing storm has forced thousands of people in southern Spain to evacuate their homes and dozens of roads remained closed due to flooding and landslides.

Leonardo is the latest in a series of storms to affect Spain and Portugal in recent weeks.

Parts of Portugal were battling strong winds and heavy rain as river levels have risen. Portugal's Civil Protection authority issued an alert for the regions near the Tagus River on Thursday due to rising water levels.

A storm in Portugal in late January also left a trail of destruction in the country and killed several people, Portuguese authorities said.

The Guadalete River overflows its banks as it passes through Jerez de la Frontera, in southern Andalusia, Spain, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, as heavy rains across the country cause flooding in the region. (Rocio Ruz/Europa Press via AP)

The Guadalquivir River overflows its banks as it passes through Cordoba, in southern Andalusia, Spain, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, as heavy rains across the country cause flooding in the region. (Madero Cubero/Europa Press via AP)

View of the flooding in the town of Grazalema on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, affected by flooding during heavy rains that hit southern Andalusia. (Joaquín Corchero/Europa Press via AP)

View of the flooding in the town of San Martin del Tesorillo on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, affected by flooding during heavy rains that hit southern Andalusia. (Francisco J. Olmo/Europa Press via AP)

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Lindsey Vonn inspected the Olympic downhill course with other racers early Friday as she prepared to take part in the opening training session despite tearing the ACL in her left knee a week ago.

The 41-year-old Vonn is planning to compete at the Milan Cortina Games with a large brace covering her injured knee.

She had a partial titanium replacement inserted in her right knee in 2024 and then returned to ski racing last season after nearly six years of retirement. She crashed during the final World Cup downhill before the Olympics in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on Friday.

With Thursday’s opening training session canceled due to heavy snowfall, there are two sessions remaining — Friday and Saturday — before Sunday’s downhill race. Training was due to start at 11:30 a.m. (1030 GMT, 5:30 a.m. ET) and Vonn has the No. 10 bib.

Vonn holds the record of 12 World Cup wins in Cortina.

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

United States' Lindsey Vonn leaves after a press conference by the U.S. ski team at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

Race officials prepare the course ahead of an alpine ski, women's downhill official training, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)