River Ebro Babble

Just like the UK and Northern Europe we have had some very extraordinary weather in Spain lately. Weather statistics show record high temperatures, record low temperatures and record rainfall for this period in various parts of Spain. In our area, early December temperatures were still reaching 22°C and we were feeling quite smug about our long and gentle Autumn. Suddenly it all changed, temperatures plummeted and on the 14th December there was a heavy fall of snow overnight.  It didn’t last long but for 24 hours it was mayhem with schools and roads closed all over the county.  We have had an odd flutter of snow in previous winters but nothing like this  – so we assumed that this was the worst that the winter was going to throw at us. Wrong! On 7th January it happened again with a massive snowfall followed by temperatures of 0 to -3°C for several days.  By the river here it didn’t stick around so long but in just 5 minutes drive out of the valley the snow was easily 30-40cm deep. It was pretty amazing to drive around the area and see vineyards covered in snow and dozens of families snowboarding, sledging and snow-balling. For many Spanish kids it would have been the first time in their lives that they were able to play in snow! A week later temperatures rose and it rained – hard. The combination of rain and melting snow raised the River Ebro by about 5 metres! In between we’ve had gale force winds! We drove over to Tarragona a couple of days ago and the roadside was strewn with branches. We’d previously noticed dozens of trees with their  branches weighed down and cracked under the weight of snow and it seems the wind had finished the job off.  We tried to go for a walk at the beach one day and very quickly sought refuge in the nearest bar! It was like being sandblasted!  And I’ve never before seen waves being almost turned backwards by wind!

It is hard to believe that in 4-5 weeks the Almond blossom will be blooming! It will won’t it? Please!