Extremely intense hailstorm hits Girona, Spain
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
Deunidó la q ha caigut aquesta tarda☈⛈#Girona pic.twitter.com/XzemLA0mrC
— Maite (@MAITUCHIII) June 30, 2017
Across town here in #Girona pic.twitter.com/AzCbNF5Dbo
— Eric Hoffman ✈️ (@TheHusbandInTow) June 30, 2017
Lesson learned… when your weather app sends you a warning of a dangerous storm… go home immediately! Hope everyone is okay! #girona pic.twitter.com/p2VKkZ49Ki
— Melissa van Zyl (@MelvanZyl) June 30, 2017
https://t.co/3bIpfYkb4B de Girona. Caos total. @meteocat @gemmapuigf @eloicordomi @Jordisolerramio @MeteoGracia @marc_elpoll @lluisregincos pic.twitter.com/gOQtu8Hx3I
— Carles Alarcón (@carles_alarcon) June 30, 2017
Deu ni do quina tempesta a #palausacosta #girona #meteocat. #meteocatpedra pic.twitter.com/vPr1nWv69W
— boschtriadu (@boschtriadu) June 30, 2017
Ah i em deixava la millor foto del nou riu de #Girona, a vista d'ocell! @TomasMolinaB #TempsTV3 pic.twitter.com/1cRcMrgwoW
— En Narcís Feliu (@NarcisFeliu94) June 30, 2017
The aftermath
C/ san francesc a #girona #tempesta @tv3.cat @meteocat pic.twitter.com/fguJLZdvrq
— Audrey Vigne (@AudreyVigne) June 30, 2017
Després de la tempesta de pedra a #Girona un dels carrers inundats @mrierapla pic.twitter.com/y2qt0DBxhe
— Jordi Camps Linnell (@jclinnell) June 30, 2017
Atrapados en el parking del Hipercor, salimos y nos encontramos esto @324cat @TomasMolinaB @Monica_Usart #girona #hipercor pic.twitter.com/Z3T0vF2qe5
— Anaïs❄️ (@92anaiis) June 30, 2017
chematierra : Impresionante!
Granizada ayer en #Girona, #calamarsa, #granizo.#España
Vía llobiols pic.twitter.com/cwnilwrdnl— Jorge Favaloro (@JorgeFavaloro) July 1, 2017
#granizo #girona https://t.co/xtFA1j9JbW pic.twitter.com/yy22uuNfuV
— Fred Decker (@Lameteo_org) July 1, 2017
Vídeo d'aquest migdia a #Girona, on es mantenen les tasques de neteja de carrers (Iolanda Bayó. Plaça Catalunya) #ProteccioCivil pic.twitter.com/Acf9qfHWeL
— EmergènciesCatalunya (@emergenciescat) July 1, 2017
Featured image: Intense hailstorm hits Girona, Spain on June 30, 2017. Credit: Jordi Camps Linnell
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.