The recent hailstorms put plum and pear crops at risk in Iregua

“Awful”. resounding, dry, like one of the booms that have sounded in the sky these days before releasing ice stones the size of hazelnuts to put an entire year’s work at risk. Iván Martínez, president of the Frutos del Campo Nuestra Señora Villavieja de Nalda Cooperative, gives voice to the desperation felt by all the farmers in the region.

Four hailstorms in the last two weeks, the most recent on Wednesday afternoon, threaten to ruin the plum, pear and other fruit harvests both in Nalda, the town hardest hit by storms in this unstable start to summer, and in a large part of the rich Iregua valley. “The hailstorm on Wednesday afternoon came to finish off what the first one last week had already caused, which caused a lot of damage, because very large, very hard stones fell,” laments the president of the cooperative, who admits that “we have to wait, it is still too early to assess the damage that may have been caused.”

With the cherry harvest practically over throughout the valley, the hail has hit the region particularly hard with plums, whose harvesting campaign usually begins in July, although it also affects pears, apples and other fruit trees, such as apricots.

“It’s horrible,” insists Iván Martínez, who prefers to wait a few days before talking about data and being able to estimate the losses. “Now we have to treat the bruised fruit with healing agents to see if the wounds close and we can save something,” he explains, admitting that the damage is evident. «In addition to the fruit trees, the orchard, and there is a lot here, has suffered a lot. The stone has destroyed everything that is a plant, entire tomato plants, zucchini, peppers… Not even a stick is left,” the farmer says sadly.

That was the atmosphere that existed this Thursday in Nalda. “The farmers are sad, sunk, because it is desperate to see how in a while, the hailstorm on Wednesday lasted ten minutes or less, you can lose an entire year’s work,” the ‘El Colletero’ association admitted.

New threat of storms this Friday and thermal collapse over the weekend, 13 degrees less

Summer resists in La Rioja. The influence of the DANA that reached the Peninsula last Tuesday will maintain the atmosphere of instability in the region both on Friday, with the risk of strong storms, and during the weekend, in which, in addition, there will be starting tomorrow a thermal collapse with a drop in maximum temperatures of up to 13 degrees.

As reported by the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet), the Iberian region of La Rioja will enter a yellow warning situation from midnight on Friday to Saturday due to rain –possibility of accumulation of 20 liters per square meter– and due to storm –“which may be accompanied by hail and very strong gusts of wind»–. Along with the possibility of precipitation, Friday will be characterized by heat, with maximum temperatures expected to be around 31 degrees in Haro (minimum 17), 35 in Logroño (18) and 37 in Calahorra, where the mercury will not drop below 17. However, for the next day, official forecasts announce decreasing temperatures, “noticeable in the maximums.” Maximum temperatures would fall by up to 13 degrees in just 24 hours, to remain at 19 in Haro, 22 in Logroño and 24 in Calahorra. Starting Tuesday, a rise in thermometers would begin again.