Finally the autumn rains have arrived and fears of a drought begin to subside despite October being the driest on record for some 80 years.
The reservoirs of the Segura basin currently stand at 54% capacity, largely due to heavy rainfall in the spring of this year, and the regional Water Board has announced that the last year, 2010-2011 was not excessively dry despite the absence of rainfall during the autumn.
While many provinces in Spain are on orange alert for heavy rain and strong winds the Calasparra sun was the local protagonist until yesterday, Sunday, when there was a short period of heavy rain and hail. In some areas of Calasparra including the zone below the Sanctuary and around the River Segura the heavy hailstorms turned the landscape white while in others the hail was fairly light.
This week promises to be unsettled with temperatures dropping to below 20 degrees today, Monday. However, they will recuperate during the week although the evenings are likely to feel cold with minimums as low as seven degrees predicted for Wednesday.
After a cloudy week with showers the sun should return next week and temperatures will climb back up to above 20 degrees. The best day of this week should be tomorrow, according to forecasters, with sun shine and maximum temperatures of 21 degrees and a minimum of eight.
