With Storm Emilia retreating, the country is braced for the next front, but on balance growers say effects have been positive
Emilia, the latest storm to sweep through the Canaries and Spain’s Mediterranean seaboard, has brought relief to growers in drought-stricken regions.
In the Canary Islands, which felt the full force of the storm, there are reports of limited damage to crops in the southwest of Tenerife and La Palma, but the rains have been largely beneficial. According to agricultural union Asaga, the worst damage has been to the island of La Palma, where up to 30 per cent of avocado crops have been affected.
In Tenerife, specifically in Guía de Isora, some farms have suffered plant and fruit losses, impacting around 10 per cent of the crops. Damage has also been reported in greenhouses in Guamasa and Güímar. In Gran Canaria, there were also isolated reports of damage to some greenhouses, as well as flooding of certain farms.
Asaja Murcia said the rainfall recorded in the Region of Murcia as a result of Storm Emilia has been beneficial in replenishing the water supply for the agricultural sector.
However, it warned of localized problems with waterlogging and root asphyxiation, especially in open-field horticultural crops, as well as difficulties in accessing fields. Hail damage has also been recorded in localized areas, which may have affected citrus and vegetables in certain areas, pending a final evaluation.
In Almeria, agricultural organisations UPA and Coag described the rainfall brought by Storm Emilia as “very positive” and “beneficial”, as the water arrived at a key moment for cereal sowing and has allowed the recharge of reservoirs and aquifers.
Spain’s meteorological agency, Aemet, has warned of the arrival of another front that will once again complicate the situation in large parts of the country, especially in the Mediterranean area, where heavy rain, storms, and potentially significant accumulations are expected in just a few hours.
