AEMET warns of potential for heavy rain and hail on Wednesday
The conditions are likely to affect the mountain areas and northern regions of the province of Alicante.
Tuesday 31st August 2021 – XÀBIA AL DÍA with Mike Smith
The state meteorological agency AEMET has activated a yellow alert risk warning for heavy rain and the possibility of hailstorms for Wednesday 1st September throughout the Marina Alta region. This special notice is valid from 10.00am on Wednesday morning and will remain active until midnight on the same day.
At the moment, the possibility of these phenomena affecting the region is more pronounced during the morning, decreasing during the afternoon and evening.
According to the University of Alicante’s Climatology Laboratory, this alert has been issued due to the passage of a DANA (Isolated Depression at High Altitude) across the Iberian Peninsula which will bring “very irregular” stormy showers to many parts of the country that could be accompanied by hail, strong gusts of wind and a lot of electrical activity in the atmosphere. All the models suggest that the mountainous areas and northern regions of the province of Alicante will be more affected.
Note: The alert doesn’t mean that these conditions are definitely going to affect us but that the models are showing that there is a good chance that they may do so so it’s best to be prepared.
Storms at this time of year are not unusual but are notoriously difficult to predict where they will occur with any high degree of accuracy and it could be that neighbouring municipalities experience completely different weather phenomena.
Prepare for the Worst
- Check guttering and drains. They should be clear of leaves and other debris to allow the rainwater to flow away easily. Take a look at the drains in the street in front of your property. It’s the council’s job to keep them clear but checking them yourself before the arrival of heavy rain can help protect your home.
- Prepare the terrace and garden. Cover up and secure patio furniture. Bring in anything that is likely to be blown around the garden and cause damage.
- Protect valuables. If you live in an area that is liable to flooding, you might want to consider gathering together any valuable or sentimental items and store them in a safe area of the house – not the basement – during the periods of heavy rain. Just in case. Material items can be replaced, memories can’t.
- Avoid driving. During periods of heavy rain, it is best to stay put, wherever you are, and avoid driving in low-lying areas and zones where water is likely to collect. Don’t attempt to cross the river if the water is flowing as it may be deeper and stronger than it appears; it only takes a few centimetres of fast flowing water to dislodge a vehicle. If the heavy rain causes poor visibility whilst driving, stop and wait until it passes.
