The province of Lleida recorded a new hailstorm on the afternoon of Saturday 4 June, the third in just three weeks. This time, damage has been caused to some 1,200 hectares of fruit (mostly nectarines and peaches) in the counties of Segrià and Les Garrigues.
As reported by the Department of Agriculture, the storm initially affected the municipalities of Seròs, Massalcoreig and La Granja d'Escarp, where there was hail mixed with water, and then became stronger in the municipality of Aitona, finally reaching Torres de Segre, Sarroca de Lleida and Torrebesses. The storm took place between 19.00 and 21.00, with hailstones measuring between 0.5 and 1 cm.
Specifically, 1,070 hectares of stonefruit and 175 of pome fruit were damaged. The municipalities where the most damage was recorded were Aitona, Torres de Segre and Sarroca de Lleida.
In Aitona, which was the most severely hit, so far 300 hectares of stonefruit have been estimated to have suffered damage with an extent of between 70 and 100% and 400 hectares with an extent of between 30 and 50%. This municipality also recorded damage to 110 hectares of pome fruit 110, with extents ranging between 30 and 100%.
In Torres de Segre, 170 hectares of stonefruit and 15 of pome fruit have suffered damages, although not as severe as in Aitona (between 10 and 40%).
Lastly, in Sarroca de Lleida there are 200 hectares of stonefruit and 50 of pome fruit affected, with extents of between 10 and 50%.
This is the third hailstorm that has hit Lleida over the last three weeks. The first one took place on 22 May and damaged 3,200 hectares of crops (sweet fruit, almonds and cereals) in the Segrià and Les Garrigues, while the second, the heaviest one, was registered on 28 May and caused damage to 5,500 hectares of sweet fruit and cereal in southern Segrià, les Garrigues, El Urgell and La Segarra.
Source - http://www.freshplaza.com
