CULTURE SPAIN – GOTA FRÍAS IN SPAIN!

GOTA FRÍA IN SPAIN

The old saying states that ‘the rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain’.  That, of course, may be correct – but it certainly has nothing to do with an exceptional phenomenon called a Gota Fría!

Certainly, experiencing a Gota Fría (‘Cold Drop’) is something that changes any North European’s concept of rain or, indeed, storms.  In fact, once you have been through a Gota Fría then you will never again lightly refer to heavy rain as being ‘torrential’…

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So, what is a Gota Fria?

Well, a Gota Fría is a meteorological phenomenon common to the Spanish Mediterranean coast, most particularly that of the Valencian Comunitat.  This autonomous region, crudely, covers the middle section of the east coast of Spain.  As a rule, the area is renowned for its blissfully benign climate, which has warm (not scorching) summers and winters that rarely go as low as zero degrees.

However, all benignity is lost when a Gota Fría occurs.  All of a sudden you can experience a sustained storm of ferocious power – a deluge of quite simply staggering quantities of water.  In fact, a Gota Fría has been likened to standing under a power shower.  Having experienced several, I would consider this no understatement, although personally I tend to liken a Gota Fría to being inside a washing machine!

The truly extraordinary thing about a ‘full-on’ Gota Fría is the way that the rain is sustained.  It is not like a monsoon, where the rains are torrential for an hour or so and then stop and start again.  A Gota Fría can last up to four days – non-stop!

The quantity of water has to be seen to be believed!  It not unknown to have 180 litres   per square metre of rain in twelve hours.  That is a lot of water (180mm or nearly six inches in depth)!

As you can imagine, a Gota Fría can cause enormous damage.  The water invariably hits ‘rock dry’ ground, which means that it immediately runs away – creating flash floods, instant rivers and turning roads into canals.  Dry river beds are filled in an instant and torrents are created everywhere as the water roars (inevitably) towards the sea.

Gandia (in Valencia Province) had a major Gota Fría in November 1987 during which, evidently, 720mm of water fell in 24 hours with an astounding 884mm (nealy a metre!)  having fallen within 36 hours!  The town (which is pretty much flat) was totally inundated.  Indeed, contemporary pictures show one of the main streets (Calle Argentinas), astonishingly, waist high in water!

Clearly, Gota Frías are a testing phenomenon.  This is certainly true for properties some of which, over the years, have been built too close to (and sometimes on!) watercourses.  These properties can be badly affected – as can properties on hillsides that lack properly constructed retaining walls.

So, when, you may well ask, do Gota Frías happen?

Usually, Gota Frias occur in September or October – although they have been known to occur in late spring.  Everything, of course, depends upon a particular weather system developing.  This, by no means, happens every year and the severity of Gota Frías varies enormously from one year to the next – with some years not really having a ‘proper’ Gota Fría at all.

The ‘particular weather system’ occurs when hot air from Africa collides over the Levant (eastern coastal Spain) with cold air from northern Europe.  If the Mediterranean is very warm then the evaporation of the sea into the air creates further instability and produces enormous clouds that, whilst not particularly broad, can have a density that can extend 10 km upwards.  Once these clouds reach ‘critical mass’ then a Gota Fría can develop – unleashing staggering amounts of rain…

Of course, the Valencians take Gota Frías ‘in their stride’.  They have always occurred and hold no terrors – despite the damage that can happen.  That said, there is usually plenty of warning with an orange alert and red alert system broadcast on TV and radio stations by the Authorities.  Generally, when an orange alert goes out you will see metal barriers beside areas subject to dangerous inundations.  Once the alert goes red then areas at risk are barred, schools closed and non essental traffic discouraged.

I have experienced a number of Gota Frías – although not like the incredible one that struck Gandia in 1987.  To be honest, I rather enjoy seeing nature at its most extraordinary and revell in the ‘laughable’ amounts of water hurtling from the skies.  Certainly we have never been too inconvenienced, except on one occasion when my wife drove home a little shaken – having been overtaken by a fridge floating quickly past her!