Province under yellow storm warning for heavy rain

Forecast for Algeciras
from our Weather Widget
(on the sidebar)

CÁDIZ The province is one of 17 in the whole country under a yellow storm alert because of the probability of heavy rain and thunderstorms, according to AEMET (State Weather Agency). The other provinces are: Almería, Córdoba, Granada, Jaén, Málaga, Sevilla, Teruel, Albacete, Ciudad Real, Cuenca, Guadalajara, Toledo, Alicante, Valencia, Murcia, Ibiza and Formentera. Our own AccuWeather link for Algeciras is quite clear about it. It turns out that temperatures are not expected to drop much as a result of any storms. For those who are visiting the area: you should know that our summer storms can reach tropical dimensions, with heavy, unexpected downpours. Golfers should NOT stay on the course, either. Storm alerts are graded yellow (low), orange (medium) and red (high).

Where have all the midges gone?

See the no see 'ums

ANDALUCÍA We write about them just the other day, and said that they would be gone by San Pablo and San Pedro's Day, June 29. What we didn't say was that the Levante (Eastern) wind would get rid of them, too. And it has. The only inconvenience is the Levante wind, which, according to our Weather Widget (it's there on the sidebar) is going to last for a good few days yet. At this time of year, the Levante tends to be fresh, which makes the hot days less so, and the evenings cool enough to wear a mantón, but as the summer progresses, can get hot and heavy and hardly refreshing. Thing is, we are at a lower latitude than Algiers and Tunis, and about the sam as the Sahara... Just thought you should know.

Okay, you can take your 'sayo' off now

(Originally published on JimenaPulse) Loosely translated Hasta el 40 de mayo no te quites el sayo means 'Don't take off your coat until the 40th of May'. A sayo is defined as a loose piece of clothing - a cape, perhaps - that reaches down to the knees. The picture is of a similar garment used in the Canary Isles that includes a shawl over the head and is evidently of Arab origin, though the Spanish mainland version is shorter. It might also apply to a raincoat of sorts. The saying dates from the Middle Ages, as does the garment, which was also used under armour. The 40th of May was yesterday and if you look out of your window or wandered out in the heat, you'll understand why we make mention of it... (Check our weather widget on the sidebar.)

Coldest Summer forecast 'an exaggeration'

As Coldest Summer appeared
in Spanish press

EUROPE Recent forecasts by Mèteo for the coldest summer in living memory, with the lowest ever temperatures and unusual rain (at least in Spain), are "an exaggeration", according to the spokesperson for Spain's Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET, State Meteorological Agency), Alejandro Lomas, who also said at a press conference on Friday that the only really reliable forecasts do not go beyond 72 hours at most, and further than ten days ahead, the trust factor drops dramatically. His comments have since been supported by a number of weather experts here and in other European countries, including France and Germany.>>>

Just when we thought summer was here ...

CAMPO DE GIBRALTAR (and beyond, no doubt) ... Spring pays us an unexpected visit with some of the year's coldest temperatures. There was snow up North, and it was cold all over Spain. Locally, there were complaints like 'Oh dear, I'd just put away the winter clothes!' and the like. There was even one, heard by Prospero from a 'campo' man, that it hadn't rained enough (will they never shut up!). The silver lining to these clouds, though, was the snow on the mountains across from Jimena (that's Sierra Bermeja) yesterday. Enjoy! (Yes, we'll be complaining about the heat before too long...)

What's the weather like in your corner of the world?

CAMPO DE GIBRALTAR Our corner of the world, the Campo de Gibraltar is quite small compared to others, yet it has a variety of weather patterns that sometimes defy logic. Much of the explanation lies in the fact that we ride on two sides of the 'spine' of Southern Spain that runs down to Gibraltar from the Serranía de Ronda. You can see for yourself: here are the links to the seven municipalities of the Campo, plus The Rock: Algeciras, Tarifa, Los Barrios, San Roque, La Línea, Jimena, Castellar, Gibraltar. (See? we make it easy for you: you could do it yourself with our Weather Widget on the sidebar.)

Lightning strikes a saint

(Photo: europasur.es)

CHICLANA Earlier this month the 17th century marble statue of a saint fell from its perch fifteen metres by the bell tower of La Soledad church on the road to the old cemetery, after being struck by lightning. The Local Police and the Bomberos (fire brigade) were called in by local residents when they heard the very loud crash that followed that of the thunder storm that came through shortly after midnight. The neighbours say it was lucky nobody was passing underneath at the time, though there was some damage to cars parked in the street. The image was destroyed beyond repair, but the fire brigade experts agreed that the bell tower had not been damaged and was in no danger of collapse.

Top o' the mornin'

JIMENA Below is a slideshow of Jimena as it was this morning - misty, mysterious. If you don't have to drive everywhere, as Prospero doesn't, it was a beautifully photographic morning. The usual coffee stop was full of people saying how difficult the road was. The bread man came in announcing that he couldn't see the road to San Pablo at five this morning but had to deliver there. This is known as a Levante mist (niebla means fog, neblina, mist). Prospero was asked several times if this was what happened every day in London or England. "Quite often," was his answer.

Jimena entrance road to get emergency repairs

(Photo: europasur.es)

JIMENA Anyone driving up the hill into the main village will have noticed a dip in the road that seems to get worse every day. The Council announced this morning that emergency repairs will be getting under way very soon and the road is likely to be closed while work is being done. In the meantime, there is now a weight restriction of 5 tons on that section of road. Entrance to the village is now by the 'middle road' or by the campsite. Regular line buses and school buses can no longer use this stretch, which is only about 50 metres from the A-405 crossroad, so passengers and students have to disembark at the bottom of the road, right by the old silo and the new Local Police station. The cause:>>>

"At last we have a pool at home!"

JIMENA We couldn't resist this photo from TioJimeno. It is the patio of Antonio Gutierrez's house, which needs no explanation. It's a good thing we take things with a sense of humour, says the article, something which can probably be applied to many houses in and around the Campo de Gibraltar and well beyond. If you have photos of your home, street, garden, patio, pets or whatever during the rains, please send them in.

Reservoirs now contain enough water for 'three years'

Guadarranque reservoir, Castellar,
on a sunny day before the rain

CAMPO DE GIBRALTAR The Mancomunidad water company, ARCGISA, yesterday announced that calculations resulting from recent rainfall said that there is enough water in the aquifers and reservoirs for the next three years. A reliable private source told us yesterday that some 250 millimeters of rain had come down in San Pablo over the previous eight days. The water company declared that the reservoirs at Guadarranque (Castellar) and Charco Redondo (Los Barrios), which supply all of the Campo except Tarifa, contained a combined total of 146.71 cubic hectolitres (hL3). The Almodóvar reservoir that supplies Tarifa is at 90% of capacity with 5.17 hL3. Based on an annual consumption of between 55 and 57 hL3, says the company, this is a reserve for the next two and a half years, which, added to alternative supply from the aquifer wells of San Roque-Castellar and the Guadiaro-Guadarranque Canal diversion, would be sufficient to supply the area for approximately the next three even if it doesn't rain at all. Reservoir dams near Jerez had to be opened earlier in the week because they were in danger of overflowing.

Landslides on CA-8201 (Jimena - Puerto Gális) close road

JIMENA / Puerto Gális The 'back' road from Jimena, the CA-8201, to Puerto Gális (and on to Ubrique or the coast) was closed yesterday because two separate landslides had eaten it away as a result of the weather - yet again. This is not the first time this road has been closed for the same reason: it remained closed for several weeks in the winter of 2010. The need for proper repairs, and even a new road, is evident. (See more photos on TioJimeno.)

Landslide cuts Algeciras - Granada rail line near Gaucín

(Photo: europasur.es)

Storms batter Andalucía · Better weather ahead

ANDALUCÍA A landslide between Jimena and Gaucín caused by the storms forced line closures on the Algeciras-Ronda-Granada route, which in turn affected the Algeciras-Madrid one as well. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday night, had the railway line administrator (ADIF) making alternative plans for passengers. The line is also used for cargo but no alternative measures could be taken for that as yet. ADIF said later yesterday, Thursday, that they didn't know how long the line would be closed because the 'situation is complicated by the weather.'>>>

Snow on the mountains on Andalucía Day

JIMENA It's cold enough, isn't it? Well, it's winter, whatchoo want? Anyway, unlike our skiing friends and those more adventurous, we love the snow as long as it's far enough away so we don't have to deal with it. This morning, the view from the main square in Jimena was beautiful. It reminded us of one of the many reasons we came to live in this part of the world. Sun was out, and there was the snow - far, far away.

Whether the weather is wetter, depends on where you look

CAMPO DE GIBRALTAR It's raining, it's pouring, it's hissing down this morning in most of the Campo de Gibraltar. What's happening lately, then? Well, temperatures are coming down, and we're either on a yellow or orange alert in this area, which will be due to strong winds. This forecast map is for 7 a.m. on Sunday, but who's up at that time anyway? (You are? Oh, okay, you're just getting home... ) We're changing the link to our Weather Widget to offer a better service. Check here for yourself.

This Autumn's storms in Murcia and Andalucía were caused by a 'cold drop'

Gota fría in Spanish means cut-off low in English, but what is it?

SPAIN Wikipedia describes a gota fría as follows: "When an upper-level high- or low-pressure system becomes stuck in place due to a lack of steering currents, it is known as being "cut off". The usual pattern which leads to this is the jet stream retreating to the north, leaving the then cut-off system behind. Whether or not the system is of high- or low-pressure variety dictates the weather that the block causes." Precisely this situation occurred over south eastern Spain over the last few days of September 2012, when a cut-off-lowSOON YOU WILL BE UNABLE

8,000 impacted severely by rain storms

Estacion Bobadilla

Alora bridge collapses, Marbella affected, roads closed

MALAGA (Europa Press) Some 8,000 people are being affected b the rain storms over the province of Malaga, according to the Junta de Andalucia. Principally affected are several towns and villages in the Ronda mountains and the Guadalhorce Valley (see a list below, including closed roads). The 112 emergency centre reports that there have been over 200 incidents, including evacuation in several spots that are very dispersed. In Alora, the bridge over the Guadlhorce River collapsed when the water broke its banks. One of the places under water is Estacion de Bobadilla, the main railway hub in Southern Andalucia. The Junta has put its Provincial Emergency Plan into effect. SOON YOU WILL ONLY GET TO READ THIS FAR UNLESS YOU SUBSCRIBE.>>>

All wrapped up

GIBRALTAR Great photo that appeared in today's Gibraltar Chronicle online with the following text: "An unusual variation of the levanter cloud dipping as a mist over the Rock yesterday, as taken by a Chronicle reader, Robert Azopardi, from the South District. (Question for Gibraltarians: Why do you insist on spelling the name for the cloud, and the wind that causes it, 'levanter' when you know perfectly well it is the levante, wind and cloud? Levante meaning 'easterly', of course, because that's where the sun comes up, or Es donde se levanta el sol.)

Ladies wot lunch! Wot a lunch!

Click to enlarge
(Second thoughts: maybe not)

JIMENA This picture was received this evening with the following text: "Some local ladies enjoying a typical Spanish lunch!!!! As it was Ash Wednesday, there was no alcohol involved  -  honest!!!!" (Val of La Viña de Liñán is on the right. Thanks, Val!) Now then, if you really want to do this village of ours a good turn, send everyone on your list the link to this item ( http://campopulse.blogspot.com/2012/02/ladies-wot-lunch-wot-lunch.html, copy & paste it onto the e-mail) as proof that it is Ash Wednesday, February 22, 2010, and look at them, for gawd's sake! 

Can you foretell the weather? Do you really want to?

Agricultural calendar, mosaic,
IV Cent., Zaragoza Museum

(WEEKEND SPECIAL) A very ancient practice in Spain, other parts of the Mediterranean and in South America, is called cabañuelas in Andalucía. The name, it is believed, comes from the Jewish festivities surrounding the Tabernacle. A Toledo document of 1450 mentions that the Jews hung forty cabañuelas in their section of the city in memory of the forty years the nation spent wandering the desert. As the festivity includes rites referring to weather prediction, the word could well have come into Castilian Spanish to mean just that. This, of course, is not necessarily true but the need to forecast the weather is as ancient as man: what would the weather be like when we all went off to kill a dinosaur? (You laugh, but you should have seen local hunters checking the weather a few days before they went out last Sunday - on the Internet, of course.)>>>