As Storm Regina sweeps through Spain bringing plenty of rain and strong winds, it’s also led to a strange metrological phenomenon dubbed ‘mud hail’ in Málaga on the Costa del Sol.
According to Spain’s State Meteorological Agency (Aemet), Storm Regina – which is currently sweeping across the country – brought a strange kind of hail to the province of Málaga on Wednesday March 4th.
The city of Antequera, just north of Málaga, recorded hailstones around 12:30pm on Wednesday, which piled up in a bizarre way like foamy snow.
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The rain and hail have also accompanied by dust and mud in the area, creating an odd concoction called granizo de barro in the Spanish press (mud hail).
The ‘mud’ was in fact dust from the Sahara which causes a haze and often turns the sky yellow or orange. It’s referred to as calima in Spanish, and it’s particularly common in the Canary Islands due to the archipelago’s proximity to the Sahara Desert.
READ MORE: What is calima in Spain and is it bad for you?
The accumulation of ice and mud caused minor flooding on several streets and was also seen in other nearby towns such as Marbella and Coín.
Some of Málaga province is still under a yellow weather warning for rain and thunderstorms this Thursday March 5th, mainly around the Costa del Sol, Guadalhorce Valley, and Axarquía areas.
Haze and mud showers have also occurred in other parts of the country. This Thursday, they may be noticeable in the Mediterranean areas and the Ebro Valley.
This is due to Storm Regina travelling north and spreading across the country.
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In the early hours of Thursday, unstable weather patterns became widespread in eastern regions. The day began with rain in parts of Valencia, the Balearic Islands, Castilla-La Mancha, Murcia, Catalonia and Andalusia.
Throughout the rest of the day, showers and thunderstorms could be intense, affecting more areas of Murcia, Valencia, the Balearic Islands, and Catalonia. They will intensify until mid-afternoon, when they reach their peak.
Showers and thunderstorms are also expected in Galicia, Asturias, and western Castilla y León.
The amount of rainfall could be significant in Teruel, Castellón, Tarragona, Barcelona, and Girona, potentially receiving between 60 and 100 mm. Some areas could even exceeding 120 mm. Larger provinces are expected to see accumulations of 20 to 40 mm in the coming days.
On Friday March 6th, areas of Andalusia, parts of the interior of the peninsula, and the northeast could still be affected with Jaén, northern Valencia and southern Catalonia on yellow alert.
Heading into the weekend, there is still considerable uncertainty as to what the weather will do, but forecasts indicate that showers and storms could continue across almost the entire country.
