Historic drought drains crucial Sau Reservoir to a trickle, Spain

Historic drought drains crucial Sau Reservoir to a trickle, Spain

Spain’s Catalonia region is experiencing its worst drought on record, with the Sau Reservoir, a crucial water source, severely depleted as seen in March 2024 satellite images. The past three years have marked the driest period since 1914, prompting the Catalan government to declare a drought emergency on February 1, 2024, and impose water consumption restrictions on its residents and businesses.

Catalonia’s worst drought in a century prompts declaration of drought emergency, new water restrictions, Spain

Catalonia’s worst drought in a century prompts declaration of drought emergency, new water restrictions, Spain

Barcelona and the wider region of Catalonia have declared a drought emergency following three consecutive years of insufficient rainfall, leading to reservoir levels falling critically low. Pere Aragones, the head of the regional government, announced immediate water-saving restrictions affecting six million people. With reservoirs at less than 16% capacity, the emergency is described as the worst drought Catalonia has experienced in a century, necessitating drastic reductions in water usage for residents, municipalities, farmers, and businesses alike.

Very bright fireball over Spain and Portugal

Very bright fireball over Spain and Portugal

A very bright fireball streaked through the night sky over Spain and Portugal at 20:03 UTC on January 21, 2024. This event took place some 19 hours after asteroid 2024 BX1 impacted Earth’s atmosphere over Berlin, Germany, as the 8th asteroid on record to be discovered before impacting Earth.

Intense hailstorm hits Menorca, Spain

Intense hailstorm hits Menorca, Spain

A sudden and intense hailstorm struck Menorca, Spain, on Tuesday morning, December 5, 2023, particularly affecting Mahon. The storm, not forecasted by Aemet, delivered heavy rainfall, with Mahon receiving 24 mm (0.95 inches) in just 15 minutes.

New medicane brewing between Spain and the Balearic Islands

New medicane brewing between Spain and the Balearic Islands

An mesoscale low has rapidly developed between Spain and the Balearic islands, the Mediterranean Medicane Centre (MCC) said in their Special Outlook issued at 12:00 UTC on September 15, 2023.