ARCHIVED - Gota fría warning this weekend in Murcia: what to expect and precautions to take

Never underestimate the power of gota fría storms, even in areas where there is no rain!

With Aemet warning of the likelihood of “gota fría” storms in the Region of Murcia and other parts of southern Spain this weekend it’s important to remember that this weather phenomenon is far removed from what northern Europeans think of as a heavy storm, and can result in serious flooding and even loss of life, as has been proved on various occasions in the past.

Between Friday and Tuesday heavy storms and rain are likely to cover all of the Murcia Region at some time, and although these are not in themselves particularly dangerous, the conditions are now right for what is known as a DANA or "Gota Fría" which is another kettle of fish altogether.

The Gota Fría is the name given to a meteorological phenomenon which often occurs in Spain’s Mediterranean coastal areas, particularly in the months of September and October. Officially it is known as an isolated high altitude depression (abbreviated to DANA in Spanish), and this is what is forecast to happen in the south of the Iberian Peninsula over the next few days as an incoming cold front meets the warm air condensing over the Mediterranean.(Click What is a Gota Fría for more detailed information)

This warning is not confined to the Murcia Region; this week Cataluña has already witnessed violent storms and flooding, and the Gota Fría warnng extends to Andalucía, the Valencia Region and Alicante province, Melilla and the lower reaches of the Castilla La Mancha Region.

The storms which result are especially violent, as huge columns of cloud rise to an altitude of up to ten kilometres before discharging their water content in torrential downpours as the two fronts collide. In one episode in 1987 over 1,000 millimetres of rain fell in 36 hours, including 400 millimetres in just 6 hours, and although this is reportedly the heaviest Gota Fría on record countless others have caused chaos and claimed lives over the centuries in the Region of Murcia, the Balearics and the Comunidad Valenciana and Andalucía.

Among the most recent instances of flooding caused by these storms in the Region of Murcia is the one in Puerto Lumbreras and Lorca in 2012, during which 13 people lost their lives, and in 2014 there were fears of similar devastation in Camposol when the rambla which runs through the development burst its banks. Fortunately, although the damage done to roads and properties was considerable, no human lives were lost.

The video and picture below show the Rambla de Nogalte in Puerto Lumbreras in its normal state and during an episode of Gota Fría to illustrate this point.

Another storm in late 2016 caused devastation in Los Alcázares, where one man died in the severe floods which ensued.

It must be pointed out that a Gota Fria can be highly localized and is notoriously difficult to predict, pulverising a very small area while neighbouring villages don´t even see a drop of rain. Certain areas are traditionally prone to Gota Fría damage due to their geographical structure, the Guadalentín Valley (running from Puerto Lumbreras, through Lorca and along the edge of the Sierra Espuña including Totana and Alhama), the Altiplano (the higher inland area including Jumilla and Yecla) and the Segura valley which runs through the Ricote valley and down past Murcia Capital, with the river Segura at its centre.

At the moment, Aemet has confined its predictions to releasing a general DANA warning and is not even showing Murcia as being on an alert status for this coming weekend at the moment although specifically mentioned the region in its warning statement.(update: On Friday a yellow alert warning was issued for Sunday and Monday) As of Friday the storm warnings are focused in the neighbouring Valencia region, the rainfall predicted for the Murcia region considered to be normal storm activity for this time of year. Various town halls have issued safety warnings, although at the moment no pre-emergency protocols have been activated anywhere. This situation will only change as the weather front moves down across Spain. Should a specific Gota Fría warning be issued at any point, the regional government will activiate a pre-emergency plan in conjunction with the councils likely to be affected and at this point will issue official warnings, which will be relayed via our social media and web.(Update: Friday afternoon the Murcian government activated its pre-emergency protocols advising local councils and emergency services to prepare for a potential Gota Fría.)

Having lived here for a number of years and experienced this same situation many times, it's important not to panic and be careful about some of the warnings which will inevitably circulate on social media.There is a massive difference between a storm, a dangerous storm and a Gota Fría, and many of those issuing warnings will not be communicating official information, so be careful what you share.

The rainfall in a Gota Fría can be absolutely torrential and intense, but the damage caused by these downpours is not limited to the area in which the rain actually falls. This is because the rain runs off into “ramblas”, the natural floodwater channels which carry it to the sea, sometimes causing flash flooding in areas where it hasn’t even rained.

For example, the devastation in 2012 in Puerto Lumbreras, which lies in the Guadalentín valley and flood plain, was caused to a large extent by the rain which fell in the mountains further inland. This rain rushed down the ramblas, which overflowed and caused the floodwater to accumulate rapidly on the agricultural plains below, accumulating at the natural flow off point in the centre.Such was the volume of water that the huge area on the slopes of the valley ran like a river, sweeping huge volumes of debris in its path. Thousands of animals drowned, the railway track was swept away and one of those who drowned was a foreign national on her way back from shopping at the market in Puerto Lumbreras who attempted to cross a flooded road in her vehicle and was swept away.

The floods on Camposol were caused by rain falling inland and rushing down a rambla and in Benidorm several years ago a street market in a rambla was swept away when rain falling inland rushed down the rambla and wiped out the market, killing several people.

A lot of this is due to the fact that these rains occur after several months of intense sun have baked the ground hard, and the volume of water makes it impossible for the earth to absorb the rainfall, so it simply runs off, following the natural contours of the land downhill. Over the years, water has cut out a natural network of ramblas and barrancos, which inter-connect and flow down to the sea or the rivers, most heading out into the sea or Mar Menor.

For this reason, it is advisable to steer clear of ramblas over the weekend, even if in the habit of parking in them, as is the case in Puerto Lumbreras (where the local weekly market is actually held in the Rambla de Nogalte, which runs through the centre of the town). Every autumn we see instances of cars, street furniture and, in the most tragic cases, people, being washed down ramblas by walls of floodwater as flash floods suddenly fill these normally dry channels with rushing water. In particularly severe episodes the ramblas can even overflow, especially when they have not been cleared of undergrowth, litter and trees, and when this happens the devastation spills over onto the land or streets alongside.

Precautions to take if the gota fría or heavy rain is imminent

The most important advice to bear in mind if heavy storms are forecast, or indeed if the skies suddenly cloud over ominously and unexpectedly, is to use common sense, and first and foremost this means STAY AWAY FROM RAMBLAS.

No exact death toll has ever been reached for the disaster in Bolnuevo in 1989, when part of the campsite next to the Rambla de las Moreras was washed away and tents and caravans were swept into the Mediterranean.

KEEP A CLEAR HEAD: it may be tempting to get in the car and move it to a safer location, but streets can become knee-deep in water within minutes. Never underestimate the power of the gota fría and the flash floods it brings, as once the water reaches axle height a car can easily be washed away downstream. Roads also "disappear" beneath floodwaters and in areas such as Torre Pacheco, which are very flat and dotted with agricultural water run-off channels, this can create life-threatening conditions. Every time there is flooding in this area a car ends up in an agricultural ditch as drivers are unable to see where the road actually is, as the waters cover the road, ditches and fields in equal measure and drivers regularly drive off the road. Over the years a number of deaths have occurred when cars become trapped in a ditch.

It is also extremely dangerous to drive through floodwaters. Every time there is a gota fría cars become trapped under bridges, in areas where the road dips and water accumulates, cars are swept away when attempting to cross a rambla or a road which becomes flooded when a rambla breaks out of its natural course and floods the road crossing above it, and cars are swept away should the floodwaters start to run. Drivers can be (and are) carried out to sea in their vehicles, drown when their vehicles become trapped by floodwaters as the force of the water prevents them from opening the car door or badly injured when a vehicle being carried by water hits an immovable object.

So, if the rain starts to fall heavily, unless you find yourself in a clearly dangerous location avoid using the car. STAY INSIDE AND WAIT UNTIL THE STORM IS OVER!

Other advice issued by fire brigades and the police include the following:

IN THE HOUSE

Carry out regular reviews of the state of roofs, Windows and guttering.

Keep important documents in a safe, dry place.

Remove toxic products (such as herbicides and pesticides) from places where water could accumulate.

Be sure to have a torch and a first aid kit in the house.

If flooding seems likely, cut off the electricity supply.

In cases of sudden flooding head for high ground or the highest part of the house.

ON THE ROADS

Avoid driving, especially at night.

Carry out regular checks on the brakes in your vehicle.

Avoid driving through flooded areas, even if you know the road well. If it is absolutely necessary, do so in first gear.

Head for high ground.

Park away from walls and fences.

If the water rises above knee-high, abandon the vehicle and wade to higher ground.

Full beam can be used as a request for help at night, using Morse Code for SOS (three long flashes, three short, and three long again).

But above all, don´t panic if it rains; much of what happens this weekend is not life-threatening and it's not necessary to hide in the house for four days just in case of a flood. Autumn storms are a normal part of life along the Mediterranean coastline and occur every year.

Just keep an eye on the weather reports, share information and take Gota Fria warnings seriously.

Join our Murcia Weather Watch group on Facebook to keep up to date with all the latest forecasts and to share your photographs and information: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RegionOfMurciaWeatherWatch/.