At the origin of these floods, the “cold drop” phenomenon and a warmer Mediterranean Sea
In autumn, the Valencian Community and the Spanish Mediterranean coast periodically experience the meteorological phenomenon of cold drop (the “cold drop”), an isolated high-altitude depression that causes sudden and extremely violent rain, sometimes for several days.
The meteorological situation that caused these sudden rains is marked by the conjunction of several factors. On the one hand, this isolated depression at high levels of the atmosphere, which was located on Monday over the Gulf of Cádiz. “This situation favors the instability of the atmosphere in the peninsula and the Balearic Islands, but a storm also forms in the southern part of the peninsula, which favors the arrival of winds from the east to the Mediterranean coast”details Rubén Del Campo, spokesperson for the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), cited by The Country. these winds “traveling long distances over a Mediterranean Sea that is warmer than normal for this time of year, causing these winds to arrive very loaded with humidity to the Mediterranean coast”.
“The interaction of this depression with these very humid winds causes the formation of storms with very strong, persistent and even torrential downpours in the Mediterranean area”continues the expert. These phenomena – called in Spain isolated depression at high levels (DANA), “isolated depression at high levels” – They are particularly difficult to predict, according to the meteorological agency.
Scientists warn that extreme weather events, such as heat waves and storms, are becoming more frequent, longer-lasting and intense due to climate change.
