Post by pigeonpie on Sept 30, 2009 18:48:57 GMT
Floods, lightning strikes and power cuts affect the island
The exceptional rainfall that the island has experienced in the past two weeks has led to a wide range of problems.
One area badly affected has been the nature reserve of S’Albufera. Here the level of the lake has risen to 1.3 metres above sea level. This has led to a very significant drop in the salt content of the brackish water that fills this lagoon. Such low levels of salt would have an extremely adverse effect upon flora and fauna of the park. Thus it has been essential to open all the sluice gates to try to drop the water level as quickly as possible. The result has been a massive outflow of black tinted water into the sea at Es Grau, transforming the normally crystalline waters of the bay.
Between 13th September and 22nd September the catchment area surrounding the lagoon received 150 millimetres of rainfall, 86mm. falling in just 24 hours on 22nd September.
The average rainfall for September is 40mm. Parts of the island have received one quarter of the average annual rainfall (618mm.) in a period of nine days. Thus it is not surprising to learn that the island has already received 29% more than the annual average and it is only the end of September.
The local meteorological office has stated that although exceptionally wet, this month’s rainfall is below the record amount for a month on Menorca - a record standing at 200mm. which fell during one October.
In addition to the problems caused by flooded roads, the thunderstorms have caused additional disruption. A lightning strike at the power station is thought to have blacked out almost the whole island on the evening of Wednesday 23rd September. Coming as it did in the evening, the power cut caused maximum inconvenience. Shops had to close, dinners were put on hold and television coverage of popular sporting events was curtailed. Traffic holdups occurred where traffic lights were put out of action. The power cut lasted almost two hours. Unfortunately, parking meters continued to function - they are powered by solar energy.
Many of the thunderstorms have been occurring during the night, leading to much loss of sleep and the need to comfort pets disturbed by the storms. The rains have quickly turned the parched fields into green pastures.
The European initiative of having a day without using one’s car was a failure. The designated day, 22nd September, was particularly wet, so the idea of walking or cycling to work, or to shop, instead of using the car, did not appeal to many people.
The exceptional rainfall that the island has experienced in the past two weeks has led to a wide range of problems.
One area badly affected has been the nature reserve of S’Albufera. Here the level of the lake has risen to 1.3 metres above sea level. This has led to a very significant drop in the salt content of the brackish water that fills this lagoon. Such low levels of salt would have an extremely adverse effect upon flora and fauna of the park. Thus it has been essential to open all the sluice gates to try to drop the water level as quickly as possible. The result has been a massive outflow of black tinted water into the sea at Es Grau, transforming the normally crystalline waters of the bay.
Between 13th September and 22nd September the catchment area surrounding the lagoon received 150 millimetres of rainfall, 86mm. falling in just 24 hours on 22nd September.
The average rainfall for September is 40mm. Parts of the island have received one quarter of the average annual rainfall (618mm.) in a period of nine days. Thus it is not surprising to learn that the island has already received 29% more than the annual average and it is only the end of September.
The local meteorological office has stated that although exceptionally wet, this month’s rainfall is below the record amount for a month on Menorca - a record standing at 200mm. which fell during one October.
In addition to the problems caused by flooded roads, the thunderstorms have caused additional disruption. A lightning strike at the power station is thought to have blacked out almost the whole island on the evening of Wednesday 23rd September. Coming as it did in the evening, the power cut caused maximum inconvenience. Shops had to close, dinners were put on hold and television coverage of popular sporting events was curtailed. Traffic holdups occurred where traffic lights were put out of action. The power cut lasted almost two hours. Unfortunately, parking meters continued to function - they are powered by solar energy.
Many of the thunderstorms have been occurring during the night, leading to much loss of sleep and the need to comfort pets disturbed by the storms. The rains have quickly turned the parched fields into green pastures.
The European initiative of having a day without using one’s car was a failure. The designated day, 22nd September, was particularly wet, so the idea of walking or cycling to work, or to shop, instead of using the car, did not appeal to many people.
