The tendency for the South East of Spain to be the driest area in Europe has now flipped the other way, thanks to all this rain.

Yes, Eastern Andalucía, Murcia and Alicante, are no longer parched and things are forecast to continue this way into next week, at least.

All this is down to a low-pressure front over the Mediterranean in front of the coast of Almería, which together with the DANA (Depresión Aislada de Niveles Altos) and the fact that the sea temperature around the Mar de Albobrán is one or two degrees up on the norm for this time of the year, has created this lasting, rainy weather.

A DANA or Cold Drop from Spanish Gota Fria comes about if a sudden cut off in the jet stream takes place (particularly in the Atlantic Ocean), a pocket of cold air detaches from the main stream, penetrating to the south over the Pyrenees into the warm air in Spain, causing its most dramatic effects in the Southeast of Spain, particularly along the Spanish Mediterranean coast.

In such a short time as between six and 24 hours, more rain fell than in six months to a year in Almería. The provincial airport there registered 57.4 litres per sq/m, which is the highest figure recorded for the month of May.

This is, strange as it might appear, far from unusual in the Med but as we have suffered a prolonged drought (nearly two years), the sensation is that it is very unusual. However, it does normally occurs in the autumn rather than spring.

Editorial note: gloria bendita is an exclamation which is equivalent to “glory be!”

(News; Andalucia)