The storm that hit the east of the country at the weekend sent a message new milestonebut not because of the heavy rains. During Sunday, 2,057 lightning strikes occurred in the territory of the Valencian Community. a record number for the month of December. It exceeds the previous historical maximum for this final month of the year, which was 227 rays and that has been achieved since counting began in 2000 on December 18, 2016. As reported by the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet), the phenomenon had a particular impact in the province of Valencia, where 1,786 downloadswhile in Alicante there were 257 and in Castellón only 14.
The Aemet has detailed that the most affected area is between the Valencian regions of Ribera Alta, Safor, Vall d’Albaida and Costera. There were 558 lightning strikes in the Ribera Alta, 450 in the Safor, 235 in the Vall d’Albaida, 172 in the Ribera Baixa, 125 in the Vinalopó Mitjà and 90 in the Costera. This pattern shows an unprecedented density of discharges for the month of December. Jorge Tamayo, Aemet delegate in the Valencian Community, explained this Infoabe that’s what it’s all about an extraordinary number. It is not common to observe this such a high volume at this time of year. Why was this number reached?
The reasons for this phenomenon, as Tamayo explains, lie, among other things, in the abnormal temperature of the sea. “It is hot, at 16 degrees, which is much less than in the month of August, for example, when the temperature was almost 30 degrees, but it is still like that a degree or two above normal; “This, together with some instability in the upper layers, led to strong storm activity yesterday with lots of lightning and lots of precipitation,” he explains. In addition, he comments, the arrival of easterly winds has ensured Sufficient humidity to intensify the rain.
Tamayo focused on that Increase in Earth’s temperature as a result of climate change, which is exacerbating situations such as those experienced on Sunday in the province of Valencia – and on Saturday in the east of Andalusia and the Murcia region. “What climate change does is that it exists more temperaturethat implies that there is more energy available in the atmosphere and this energy causes all meteorological phenomena higher intensityincluding storms,” he points out, adding that this is “one of the most noticeable impacts we have than rainfall, because they can be fundamentally more intense because.” more energy is available generally in the atmosphere.”
As to whether a recurrence of this type of episode could be expected in winter, the delegate explained that although thunderstorms are more common in spring and summer, it is not common to observe them. with such magnitude in Decembera period when the atmosphere is typically characterized by lower activity and energy. However, he has recognized that this pattern is beginning to change due to the effects of global warming.
Tamayo emphasizes that according to climate change reports, there is clear evidence of this The climate has already warmed and has taken on a more energetic character, reflected in a progressive intensification of meteorological phenomena that are becoming more and more extreme. As an example, he recalled last year’s DANA, which was around 15% more intense due to the effects of climate change.
Will this be the new normal? This is what characterizes climate change, he says. “All the reports on climate change tell us that the climate has already changed, it is warmer and more energetic and the tendency is for the phenomena to become more and more violent,” warns the Aemet delegate, citing the last day as an example. “We still can’t say it’s a clear impact of climate change, but it’s certainly consistent with everything climate change is telling us.” everything becomes more intense And something that wasn’t normal in December, like so much storm activity, will become more common. That doesn’t mean it will happen every winter or every December, but something that is exceptional now because becomes more common“, he adds.
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