Many friends and guests ask us if Tres Reinas Valencia Apartments were affected by the floods in Valencia. Fortunately El Cabanyal was spared the misery; we only had a heavy storm. One supplier lost his vans, but as far as we know our guests, friends and suppliers in Valencia have not had any major dramas.
The location close to the beach was essential for our safety. Inland near the mountains, warm, moist air from too warm sea water rose to 5 km altitude. There it condensed against the exceptionally cold air in a depression, that was trapped between high pressure areas. Due to these extreme weather conditions, the condensation converted into enormous downpours. The immense amount of rainwater flowed to the lowest point, causing floods that reached the edges of the city of Valencia. The phenomenon is known as DANA: Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos, or an ‘isolated depression at higher levels’. And because this depression was trapped, it stayed in the same place and produced rain and the floodings.
Rising sea temperatures due to fossil fuel emissions increase the likelihood of extreme weather events, such as DANA.
After a serious flooding of the Turia River in 1957, Valencia diverted the course of the river from the centre to the edge of the city. The old river-bed was turned into an elongated park: the Turia Gardens (Jardí del Túria/Jardín del Turia) with the City of Arts and Sciences Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències. By diverting the Turia, the city of Valencia, and therefore also El Cabanyal and Tres Reinas Valencia, are safe.
