Hailstorm sweeps northern Murcia and threatens olive harvest

The storm brought intense rainfall and large amounts of hail to several municipalities, with 20.8 litres per square metre recorded in Cehegín in just 10 minutes

Farmers in parts of northern Murcia are assessing possible damage to their olive crops after a powerful hailstorm swept across several municipalities in the early hours of Wednesday October 7. The storm arrived at around 5:00 am, bringing heavy rain, hail and plenty of electrical activity to parts of the Vega Alta and Noroeste areas.

Cehegín appears to have been among the worst affected. Municipal sources reported that 20.8 litres of rain per square metre fell there in just 10 minutes shortly after 6:00 am. The intense downpour caused water and debris to run through some streets, although there were no reports of significant damage in the town.

Other municipalities affected by the storm included Caravaca de la Cruz, Cieza, Abarán and Bullas, while particularly heavy hail was reported in the El Cagitán area. El Cagitán stretches across land between the municipalities of Cieza, Calasparra and Mula, where the hail has caused concern among olive growers at an important point in the agricultural calendar.

Olegario del Amor, a dryland farmer in the area, described the hailstorm as intense. He said farmers would have to wait until inspections were carried out before they could get a clearer picture of what had happened to the crop. That assessment is expected to take place soon, with growers checking the olive trees and fruit for signs of damage. Hail can be particularly unwelcome for farmers when it arrives close to harvest, as the impact can vary considerably depending on its intensity and how long it lasts.

For now, the full extent of any losses in El Cagitán remains unclear. The inspections should provide a better idea of whether the storm has caused limited damage to individual fields or whether a larger part of the olive crop has been affected.

The storm comes after several days of changeable autumnal weather across the Region, with rain and thunderstorms returning to parts of Murcia after a spell of warmer conditions.

See also:Yellow weather warning issued across Murcia as rain and storms return

Image: Archive