Severe hailstorm damage in El Ejido, Almeria, Spain
A powerful, isolated high-altitude depression brought severe weather conditions to Andalusia on Monday, October 28, 2024, with the province of Almería being particularly impacted by the heavy rainfall, hail, and thunderstorms. The storm, which began Sunday night, October 27, led to road closures and widespread damage, including hailstones up to 5 cm (1.97 inches) in diameter.
Vehicles damaged by hail in El Ejido region in Spain. Image credit: MaRio
- A high-altitude depression brought severe weather to Andalusia, particularly affecting Almería with torrential rain, thunderstorms, and golfball-sized hail.
- Rainfall totals reached 50 mm (1.97 inches) in some areas like Partaloa, while other towns, including Albox and El Ejido, recorded over 21 mm (0.83 inches) during the event.
- The intense overnight storm led to multiple road closures in the province of Almería.
- AEMET issued orange-level weather warnings for Almería, Granada, Cádiz, and Málaga, with up to 80 mm (3.15 inches) of rainfall expected over a 12-hour period on Tuesday. The alert will downgrade to yellow by 17:00 LT as the storm gradually weakens.
A powerful, isolated high-altitude depression, known in Spain as DANA (Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos), brought severe weather conditions to Andalusia on Monday, with the province of Almería being particularly affected. This system began impacting the region on Sunday night, October 27 with heavy torrential rain, thunderstorms, and hail.
The storm intensified from Sunday night into Monday, with increased rainfall overnight, leading to the closure of several provincial roads.
The hail produced by DANA caused significant damage across affected areas, with hailstones reaching up to 5 cm (1.97 inches) in diameter. Golfball-sized hail struck the municipality of El Ejido after 22:00 local time (LT) on Monday. Visuals on social media showed several vehicles having been damaged by the hail falling like bullets from the sky.
According to data from the Meteorological Association of the Southeast (Ametse), rainfall was especially intense in the Almanzora Valley and western Almería. Partaloa recorded 50 mm (1.97 inches) of accumulated rainfall from Sunday night into Monday, with approximately 30 mm (1.18 inches) falling within a single hour.
Other towns also recorded significant rainfall during the storm. Albox, Oria, and El Ejido each recorded over 21 mm (0.83 inches) of rainfall, while Celín in Dalías reported 18 mm (0.71 inches).
In El Ejido’s Santa María del Águila area, rainfall on Monday accumulated to 21.7 mm (0.85 inches), while Paraje Cabriles recorded 17.92 mm (0.71 inches), and Las Palmerillas received 8.51 mm (0.33 inches).
Meanwhile, higher-altitude areas of the Sierra de los Filabres, including Las Menas de Serón and regions near Calar Alto, experienced snowfall.
The State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) issued Orange Alerts for rain and thunderstorms on Tuesday, October 29, in Almería, Granada, Cádiz, and Málaga. Forecasts indicate that up to 80 mm (3.15 inches) of rainfall may accumulate over a 12-hour period in parts of Almería.
The Orange alert will remain in effect until 11:00 LT on Tuesday, after which it will be downgraded to a Yellow alert that will remain in effect until 17:00 LT on Tuesday.
The system is expected to affect the region until Tuesday afternoon. Authorities and emergency services have urged residents to stay informed and take necessary precautions as the storm continues bringing severe weather conditions.
References:
1 Impresionante tormenta de granizo en El Ejido: parece que llueven piedras – Diario de Almeria – October 28, 2024
2 Una violenta granizada provoca destrozos en El Ejido – La Vanguardia – October 29, 2024
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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