Tarragona suffered this Monday afternoon the brunt of the storm that affected the country. A violent hailstorm left rarely seen images in the city, with strong gusts of wind and large hailstones. The most intense rains lasted a few minutes, but they were enough for the water to flow down streets in El Serrallo such as Sant Pere and Gravina. Furthermore, lines R14, R15, and RT-1 were cut between Móra la Nova and Reus due to the rain. One lane of the AP-7 in the northbound direction at the height of Tarragona was also affected, having to be closed due to fallen trees on the road, which caused a five-kilometer tailback.

Hail and hailstones are a classic weather phenomenon in our area. They are common, especially in summer, but in recent years, an increase in these off-season phenomena has been detected, especially with larger stones. This year is a good example, as exceptional hailstorms have been recorded since April due to unusual timing and sizes. All of this is a result of the impact of global warming and the climate crisis.

The effects of the climate crisis are increasingly evident in our country, and this spring has been no exception, despite the end of the drought. The spring storms of April and May are producing exceptional hailstorms, unprecedented at this time of year since records began in Ponent or Terra Alta. These episodes have caused serious damage to crops and fruit trees in the area.