Gota Fria in Murcia Spain

[Sky Full]

Devastating scenes from some towns in southern Spain following intense storms in recent days.  The 'Gota Fria' is a regular Autumn weather phenomenon in the area but this has been one of the worst in recent years.  Extreme weather events like this definitely seem to be occurring more frequently and with greater violence around the world which is in keeping with predictions made by climate change experts.  I can't begin to imagine the cost of cleaning up and repairing the damage but it seems likely it will all happen again at regular intervals in the future.  When visiting the area you are struck by the size of the usually dry storm channels (ramblas) which have been constructed in the past to cope with excessive rainfall but it would appear that these are inadequate now, at least for the conditions experienced this week.

https://youtu.be/EO6ZFCX4skI

 

[Sky Full]

Apologies -  the YouTube link above does not work so here is the original video which vividly shows the effects of the recent extreme rainfall in southern Spain..... 

 

[Jo Farrow]

Bit from blog on 13th 

"Disruption to the Jetstream early this week led to a cut off low over Iberia and there has been devastating flooding in the east for Alicante, Valencia and awful weather for holidaymakers in the Costa Blanca or Balearics. With the warm waters of the Med, this cut-off vortex of cooler air above, it is very unstable and massive thunderstorms have resulted. This should ease slowly at the weekend, but red warnings are still in place today. It's known as Gota Fria, cold drop."