Rain relief welcomed
More precipitation due to arrive at the weekend, according to meteorologists
FOUR days of rain brought relief for farmers and water reserves, while the downpours also caused some flooding and damage on the coast.
The low pressure weather system arrived in the south east of Spain last Thursday night and continued to affect the area until the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Farmers unions have highlighted that the precipitation was in general very beneficial for agriculture and the countryside after a long period of dry weather which had led them to fear the shortages could lead to restrictions on irrigation. President of AsajaAlicante, José Vicente Andreu, said the rainfall had been a ‘divine blessing’.
Alicante university climatology lab noted that the precipitation had fallen in almost all areas of the province, which was ‘great news’.
State news agency EFE reported that reservoirs in the Júcar basin, which serve the north of Alicante and south of Valencia provinces ‘have increased the amount of water in store’, while the Segura river and water authority (CHS) which serves the south of Alicante and Murcia noted on Wednesday that stocks are the same as last week, with reservoirs at an average of 33% of total capacity.
The climatology lab reported that 134 litres per square metre (l/m2) of rain fell in 12 hours at Alicante-Elche airport during the early hours of Friday, with 100 l/m2 registered in just one hour – the highest amount since records began. University meteorologist Samuel Biener said the downpour occurred at a time of year when ‘the sea is colder’, which means that the temperature of the Mediterranean is an important factor in storms but ‘not the decisive one’.
“During this century we are seeing more episodes of torrential rain in seasons outside of the autumn,” he noted.
The fire service was called on Friday morning to pump water out of properties in rural areas off the Elche-Santa Pola road. A spokesman for the brigade told state news agency EFE that there had not been any injuries or great damage to property. He noted that a driver and passengers had become trapped in their car in rising flood water in the Altabix area and they were rescued by firefighters.
The Guardia Civil reported that the N-340 in Elche has been shut for a short period from 05.20 due to flooding.
The fire service published a video on their Twitter account showing work they carried out in La Mata, Torrevieja on Saturday. A spokesman reported that they had removed material which could have fallen from roofs into the street below, including cornices and solar panels. However, some of the heaviest rainfall in the Torrevieja area during the episode occurred on Monday morning.
Torrents which descended on the beaches washed away sand and left a palm tree on La Mata beach close to the promenade leaning in a precarious fashion. Streets were also flooded in the Jardín del Mar area of Torrevieja, which still
suffers such problems in heavy rain despite work carried out in recent years to drain water to channels constructed next to the CV-905 dual carriageway.
The police had to close roads in Dénia and Jávea. Three country lanes – La Bota, El Fondo and El Llavador – and the River Alberca crossing were shut to traffic on Monday morning, along with the main seafront esplanade on the Marineta Cassiana beach in Denia.
Jávea's Avenida de la Llibertat, in the Arenal beach area, was also barricaded to prevent cars attempting to get through. According to the two Montgó weather stations, part of the regional meteorological network, both sides of the mountain were hit by around 95 l/m2 overnight, while in Denia town centre, the Joan Chabàs rain meter registered 85 l/m2. All the roads were reopened before Wednesday morning.
The fire service mountain unit rescued a man who attempted to ascend Monte Ponoig near Polop during the inclement weather.
The team set out on Saturday afternoon in fog and rain after they received an alert that the 70-year-old was lost on the
mountain which stands close to Finestrat’s Puig Campana, with summit at 1,183 metres.
He told emergency services that he had become disorientated due to the poor visibility.
Despite operating in the darkness and in very adverse conditions they were able to locate the pensioner in the early hours of Sunday morning.
They led the walker back down the mountain and noted that he was ‘in good health’ despite his ordeal.
Meteorologists have reported that more rain is on the way. A series of Atlantic fronts are due to channel into Spain from the west, starting today (Friday) with rain forecast for many areas of Alicante province. The most active weather system is due to form at the beginning of next week – which will be a cut off low pressure weather system (DANA or ‘gota fría’ in Spanish).
At the moment meteorologists are predicting that this will occur to the west of the Strait of Gibraltar, bringing heavy rain to south of the country during next week.
This would mean rainfall in Alicante province would be moderate.