The Ebro Hydrographic Confederation (CHE) confirmed that water reserves accumulated as snow in the basins of the Segre, Garona, Valira, Noguera Pallaresa, and Noguera Ribagorçana rivers have experienced a significant increase. This forecasted figure of 700 cubic hectometers (hm³) represents an increase of approximately 40% compared to the average recorded during the last five years for this time of year.
The increase is mainly due to recent precipitation episodes, such as storm Harry, which alone contributed about 200 hm³ of additional snow reserves in the Lleida demarcation over the last week. This contribution has allowed the region to move from being below average in January to being “quite above,” according to CHE data.
“"Despite being an exceptional situation that places the reserves of these rivers 40% above the average of the last 5 years, these are not unique data, since there have been years like 2018 or 2020 when the accumulated volume of water in the form of snow was higher at these dates."
Maria Luisa Moreno, Head of Hydrology at the CHE, explained that the estimation is carried out using a mathematical model based on daily precipitation and temperature data. Reserves currently stand at around 550 hm³ of water. With forecasts of new rainfall starting this Thursday and throughout the weekend, reserves are expected to reach 700 hm³ next week.
