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Extremely intense hailstorm hits Girona, Spain

ByTeo Blašković
girona-hail-storm-spain

Featured image: Intense hailstorm hits Girona, Spain on June 30, 2017. Credit: Jordi Camps Linnell 

Heavy rain accompanied by huge amounts of hail hit the city of Girona, Spain's northeastern region of Catalonia, late Friday, June 30, 2017. There were no injuries but the event produced significant damage. Authorities said it was a very complicated situation, unusual, and never seen in the city before.

According to the Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya (SMC), the storm dumped 53 mm (2 inches) in the city center, 35.1 mm (1.38 inches) in Cassà de la Selva (Girona) and 23.2 mm (0.91 inches) in Fornells de la Selva (Girona) within just 30 minutes.

According to the City of Girona, the city center received 143 mm (5.6 inches) of rain within a couple of hours while 193 mm (7.59 inches) of rain fell at Sarria de Ter. These are exceptional figures in recent decades, authorities said.

Emergency services said they have received a total of 299 calls between 19:00 and 22:00 local time.

There are no reports of injuries. However, the material damage to private properties, homes and shops is significant.

The Mayor of Girona, Marta Madrenas, said they were prepared for the storm and floods, but city's drainage system was unable to absorb all the water. 

"This was a very complicated situation, unusual, and never seen in the city before," Madrenas said.

The storm

The aftermath

Teo Blašković founded The Watchers in 2011 and edited it until 2026, covering seismic and volcanic activity, extreme weather, space weather and near-Earth objects. Articles on this page are his archive.

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One Comment

  1. Ah, I was in Gerona this past October. Such a charming medieval walled city – so few of them left! I hope all is well, what a turn of events!! Buena Suerte TO YOU ALL. State safe.

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