No rain for a year, then a hurricane arrives
10 October 2005
MADRID — The Iberian Peninsula was braced for the arrival of Hurricane Vince with gales of up to 70km per hour and heavy rains promised.
Galicia, Castilla y Leon and Extramadura in the west of Spain and parts of Portugal were expected to get the brunt of the hurricane which was coming in from the Atlantic.
The Spanish National Meteorological Institute (INM) said the tropical hurricane is expected to hit Portugal on Tuesday morning then pass over Spain later in the day.
The worst of the weather in Spain will be felt in mountainous areas.
Ángel Rivera, of INM, said Vince was "very unusual" because it had started near the Portuguese island of Madeira where hurricanes are not known to develop.
t will only reach level one on the scale of hurricane strength, according to the Miami Hurricane Centre. Five is the worst.
Meanwhile, the rain finally arrived in Spain, ending the driest year since 1990.
Television news reported how south and central Spain had been hit by showers and there were heavier downpours promised later in the week.
Seville, Madrid, Extremadura and Castilla y Leon saw rainfall, but the worst affected areas in Murica, Alicante and eastern Andalusia cannot expect to see much of the rain.
As the country struggles with the worst drought since 1947, the rains will help to ease its effects.
Farmers have lost EUR2 billion this year as crops have withered in the heat. Fountains have been switched off and swimming pools emptied to save water.
One town near Madrid has had its supplies cut off, but the government insists domestic supplies will not be affected.
I'm so glad. They have been stuggling with the drought. I heard they lost many of the olive groves.
But did it rain mainly in the plain?
This is pretty amazing. I guess its a good thing though, what with the rain coming in, sounds like they can REALLY use it! Hopefully it can all be utilized and the ground can soak it up and reservoirs/wells filled. I know some parts of the world cannot make use of a large rain because of the soil characteristics.
Since all hurricanes are W's fault, this one had to be retribution for withdrawing troops from Iraq.