It's stormy in Spain.

[Whippetsontour]

everywhere needs a refreshing downpour every now and again to wash the cobwebs away..
you’re so lucky it rarely happens..

love a good storm with thunder and lightening as long as nobody injured..

Actually over 100 people have died, and it wasn’t a storm, Dana is a weather phenomenon, cold air drop apparently, it’s devastating. I was lucky enough to avoid it, saw it coming and made the decision to get out of dodge, and hightail it to Portugal!

 

[dryad]

Actually over 100 people have died, and it wasn’t a storm, Dana is a weather phenomenon, cold air drop apparently, it’s devastating. I was lucky enough to avoid it, saw it coming and made the decision to get out of dodge, and hightail it to Portugal!

my post that you quoted was put on very early morning on Tuesday before the storm developed into the dreadful catastrophe that has caused so much destruction and loss of life..

 

[gus-lopez]

Roads closed around Valencia… note those driving to Benidorm and other destinations south of there… well used route by us all!View attachment 972575

It will be a fair while to you can get through around there. One side of the autovia is a scrapyard .

Unfortunately there are some stupid people around that drive motorhomes, but I might add are not Funsters...for example our neighbours, who set off in their motorhome this morning heading for the UK...the first stopover was near Peniscola, so from here in Murcia driving on the A7...Yes you've guessed it... straight into the worst hit areas of Spain...Valencia...their 4.5 hour journey took double that....and on arrival they called me to tell me there are cars everywhere and the motorway was closed...it was a nightmare they said...I did the best I could to control my feelings and not say how stupid they are..
They did say...we have no options we had go, I replied another route ?
No we like Peniscola....Such stupidity

I fail to see how they can get through? Watching the live feed & there does not appear to be anyway around the ring road to Sagunto or the A3 or CV35?? The A7 & AP7 are both blocked? they really must be stupid.

 

[jumar]

It will be a fair while to you can get through around there. One side of the autovia is a scrapyard .

I fail to see how they can get through? Watching the live feed & there does not appear to be anyway around the ring road to Sagunto or the A3 or CV35?? The A7 & AP7 are both blocked? they really must be stupid.

They were diverted through small roads and into the centre of the city, then taking the V21 coast road...they were celebrating their efforts when they video called me...as you can imagine this went down well....loss of any lives causes me terrible pain indeed, made even more difficult, being so close to home.
Our community has started a collection today for clothing, bedding etc....Judith has a pile of stuff ready to drop off tomorrow No doubt my Bank will start a fund raising account in the next few days..Lots of festivities are cancelled for tonight in some regions and as you know 3 days of national mourning...

 

[Burgo]

This has been posted on facebook. View attachment 972356

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[seasideBill]

Unfortunately there are some stupid people around that drive motorhomes, but I might add are not Funsters...for example our neighbours, who set off in their motorhome this morning heading for the UK...the first stopover was near Peniscola, so from here in Murcia driving on the A7...Yes you've guessed it... straight into the worst hit areas of Spain...Valencia...their 4.5 hour journey took double that....and on arrival they called me to tell me there are cars everywhere and the motorway was closed...it was a nightmare they said...I did the best I could to control my feelings and not say how stupid they are..
They did say...we have no options we had go, I replied another route ?
No we like Peniscola....Such stupidity

I do wonder what the locals make of tourists like that carrying on as normal while all around there is devastation?

 

[Burgo]

There's actually a learning point emerging from this - one especially pertinent to those traveling - regarding not taking note of local forecasts and advisories.

AEMET had flagged this DANA event up before it occurred and had issued advisory information. So, with this warning being in the public, and official, domain then surely those of travelling in motorhomes / yachts / light aircraft etc should be aware of this.

There seems to be a reluctance in some to keep abreast of potential hazards in area in which they are operating if they are not in their native languages.

Local weather information and weather trends are hugely important to us who sail and aviate but for some reason drivers just poodle along regardless.

As an example, we spent a month touring around the north coast and Galicia and Asturias at the end of Sep / early Oct, keeping an eye on the Atlantic synoptic charts to stay ahead of the big storms and ducking south and west below the fronts. Others we heard of stayed put or went north into the teeth of it and had really scarey nights.

Surely it is incumbent on all of us to use the information given to us free by the official agencies in order to maximise our security & comfort while travelling?

 

[bigtree]

Unfortunately there are some stupid people around that drive motorhomes, but I might add are not Funsters...for example our neighbours, who set off in their motorhome this morning heading for the UK...the first stopover was near Peniscola, so from here in Murcia driving on the A7...Yes you've guessed it... straight into the worst hit areas of Spain...Valencia...their 4.5 hour journey took double that....and on arrival they called me to tell me there are cars everywhere and the motorway was closed...it was a nightmare they said...I did the best I could to control my feelings and not say how stupid they are..
They did say...we have no options we had go, I replied another route ?
No we like Peniscola....Such stupidity

They obviously have a favourite route, where is their crossing to the UK ?

 

[jumartoo]

They obviously have a favourite route, where is their crossing to the UK ?

The Channel Tunnel!

 

[jumar]

The Channel Tunnel!

In 8 days time...

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[bigtree]

In 8 days time...

Plenty of time then, could have done the route I will take to northern Spain in 2 weeks.

 

[Puddleduck]

Surely it is incumbent on all of us to use the information given to us free by the official agencies in order to maximise our security & comfort while travelling?

As a visitor / tourist I would hate to add to the burden on emergency services by getting caught in a disaster, getting in the way or using resources needed for people affected. Even items taken for granted such as clean water are precious.

Unless I could help I would do my bit by staying well clear (and contributing cash when possible).

 

[gus-lopez]

They obviously have a favourite route, where is their crossing to the UK ?

As do I & which includes the Valencia ring road to Sagunt & inland on the A23 but if I was travelling now I would modify it to steer well clear of the area the same as I use Som port which is closed so another crossing would have to be used. There is no need to be in an area with so much devastation when it is not necessary.

 

[Vikdikdok]

Copied from BBC website

 

[EuroTrotters]

Actually over 100 people have died, and it wasn’t a storm, Dana is a weather phenomenon, cold air drop apparently, it’s devastating. I was lucky enough to avoid it, saw it coming and made the decision to get out of dodge, and hightail it to Portugal!

Its is what we used to know as Gota Fria

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[EuroTrotters]

Similar huge rainfalls are a feature of eastern Spain, where hills rise abruptly from the sea. The local name for this phenomenon in Valencia province is the ‘Gota Fria’ (Cold Drop), typically when an upper level low gets cut off and remains stationary in the area. It is caused when the cool air of Autumn is drawn in from further north in Europe and meets with the Mediterranean still at its warmest. It doesn’t happen every year, but when it does the rains can be phenomenal. There is a similar phenomenon in Languedoc or Provence.

In October 1957 a great storm hit Valencia province. In Javea (Xabia) – 871mm of rain fell in a single day (2 October) and 978mm in the period 1-3 October. Possibly more than 1,000 mm fell during the two days nearby but the gauges overflowed because they couldn’t be emptied fast enough!. In the City of Valencia itself a major flood also occurred later the same month in October 1957. Estimates of the frequency of the 1957 flood suggested that up to 75 floods had taken place in the area in the previous 700 years.

In 2007 a similar flood affected Javea again on 12th October and gave 437 mm of rain in one day. Amongst other storms we have 1987, when Oliva recorded 817mm in a day and another location recorded 426 mm in one day only a couple of weeks before. More than 600mm was recorded in 24 hours an adjoining province in 1973.

We had it bad, easter 2001. 5 local deaths In javea


We also had it bad here. No power for three days a few deaths

Deadly storm Gloria batters Spain, then shifts to France

Four deaths are reported in Spain, with Gloria described as the worst storm in the region since 1982.

www.bbc.co.uk

Storm Gloria: Spain death toll rises to 13 with four missing

Spain's government is to meet in emergency session after the storm carved a swathe of destruction.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[rb62]

Started looking out a route home for us and found this site,unless anyone knows a better one

Información de tráfico

infocar.dgt.es

 

[Barclaybasher]

Anyone thinking of not travelling to Spain?

Does it 'feel right' holidaying when the country has suffered such a disaster?

I planned to go in about 3 weeks - having second thoughts......

 

[Chickie]

We are watching Spanish TV to keep up with the devastation so so sad our hearts go out to all of Spain. Keep safe everyone.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Anyone thinking of not travelling to Spain?

Does it 'feel right' holidaying when the country has suffered such a disaster?

I planned to go in about 3 weeks - having second thoughts......

I think we just have to try and carry on. Maybe with some respect for the People of Spain.

If you continue, you will be contributing to the economy.

I planned last year to go to Spain with My Wife and friends. As mentioned here, post number 30

It's stormy in Spain.

Hope all our neighbours and visitors are keeping safe during this very stormy period. Here in Murcia our windows are rattling and our trees are swaying... Heavy rain will make driving conditions very difficult with the possibility of snow on higher ground.... Those questions we often get about...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

But I am still going, earlier. I will see how the Spanish are with their planned fiestas.

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[Tombola]

Anyone thinking of not travelling to Spain?

Does it 'feel right' holidaying when the country has suffered such a disaster?

I planned to go in about 3 weeks - having second thoughts......

Or the other angle of supporting local communities with spending etc. Maybe even help out if requested

 

[jumartoo]

Anyone thinking of not travelling to Spain?

Does it 'feel right' holidaying when the country has suffered such a disaster?

I planned to go in about 3 weeks - having second thoughts......

A lot of Spain will be carrying on their normal lives. Keep your plans and, maybe, search out a donation point somewhere and donate something. Non perishable food and water is needed.

 

[TDub49]

Unfortunately there are some stupid people around that drive motorhomes, but I might add are not Funsters...for example our neighbours, who set off in their motorhome this morning heading for the UK...the first stopover was near Peniscola, so from here in Murcia driving on the A7...Yes you've guessed it... straight into the worst hit areas of Spain...Valencia...their 4.5 hour journey took double that....and on arrival they called me to tell me there are cars everywhere and the motorway was closed...it was a nightmare they said...I did the best I could to control my feelings and not say how stupid they are..
They did say...we have no options we had go, I replied another route ?
No we like Peniscola....Such stupidity

There is never "no option" - you are where you choose to be.

 

[Carpmart]

There is just such massive destruction in several areas, we have delayed travelling from Portugal to Espania by a couple of weeks, originally because the weather was better in Portugal, but now because they don’t need tourists in certain areas diluting their stretched resources.

We avoided central Portugal in Sept because of the fires too!

We need to be in Malaga (wife flying to UK) by 11th Nov, but we are delaying leaving the Algarve until the last minute and will drive straight to Malaga.

 

[Armytwowheels]

We dodge the storm by moving the morning before it hit. We were in Bullas, not far from Caravaca de la Cruz, which was badly hit.

We headed for Thadar and camped on Ikea carpark for 2 nights. Not ideal and I would never choose to stay there, but thanked our lucky stars we did. It was scary enough during the hight of the storm, but at least we didn't have trees falling on us, or bits of buildings flying around and most of all no flooding. I feel luck was on our side when we went there. Of course we had a meal of Swedish Meat Balls!!

Valencia is a mess at the moment and I would say avoid at all cost. Some areas have no electricity, no phone signals, no fresh water and the list goes on. A report on the radio this morning said that nearly all A roads in and around Valencia are blocked. Food supplies are not getting through to the shops and no one can buy anything as the ATM's are not working. You cannot use debit or credit to buy anything.

We are now in Totana and it is like nothing has happened, hardly any water or wind damage at all.

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[DBK]

Google Maps is showing a lot road closures many, with grim irony around a place called Torrent. But I suspect it won't show all closures as the data comes from mobile phone signals which with phone masts down will be incomplete. I believe some of the roads are closed because parts have been washed away and bridges are also down. It won't be fixed for a while.

 

[Carpmart]

Google Maps is showing a lot road closures many, with grim irony around a place called Torrent. But I suspect it won't show all closures as the data comes from mobile phone signals which with phone masts down will be incomplete. I believe some of the roads are closed because parts have been washed away and bridges are also down. It won't be fixed for a while.

View attachment 972849

See post #144

 

[DBK]

See post #144

And I could say see post #122 but that's not the point I was making today, only to show how things are changing day to day and warning the maps may not be up to date.

 

[bellabee]

There is never "no option" - you are where you choose to be.

So said the able-bodied person.

 

[ChrisL]

So said the able-bodied person.

View attachment 972863

I think there will be many stories like that, people will have PTSD, survivor guilt I just have to be thankful that no family or friends were effected and remember how lucky we are.

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