It has been one of the hottest summers on record and the Met Office is warning of sever storms over the next few weeks. These storms are often known as the Gota Fria in the Valencia area.

As the sea warms up in the summer much of the water evaporates. If in these climatic conditions a storm or cold front arrives, a situation of instability arises. The water vapour that the sea releases in great amounts ascends dragged up by the instability and is condensed on encountering the cold zone, forming a cloud. On the Costa Blanca the mountains behind the seas form a cold block to help the condensation process. The cloud was formed can become very big very quickly.

Thus, in a few hours huge storm clouds can be formed which although they do not have a great horizontal extension can measure more than ten kilometres in height.

These clouds unload themselves in the form of very heavy rain, normally accompanied by hail and thunder but very locally. The amount of rain can reach 300 litres / m2 (that is 12 inches of rain) in a couple of hours. Although you might think the rains would be welcome the effects can be disastrous. Just a few years ago two people died as a result of a flash flood in an underground car park.

The key to the cause of structural damage and life is the accumulation of rainwater in gullies that form “tidal” waves that wash away anything in their path. In the Spanish Mediterranean zone it is frequent rivers remain dry many months of the year and are occupied by plants, tress or buildings. This means that during flooding the damage is greater.

In recent times construction of new properties has taken place in what are actually dry river beds. This exacerbates the problems for local authority and new house owners alike when flood waters come tearing down the gullies.

Many town halls do not take adequate measures against the Gota Fria and as a result structural damage is more likely. In 1995 a survey showed that only three quarters of all the town halls in the danger area had made any effort in terms of protection. The measures that had been taken were also inadequate - simply not enough sandbags for rivers etc.

If you find yourself in a severe Gota Fria then think about these simple measures to help safeguard yourself and your possessions:

Bring outside possessions inside the house, or tie them down securely. This includes outdoor furniture, dustbins, garden tools, signs, and other movable objects that might be blown or washed away.

Make sure you have a torch, dry foods, water and spare batteries as well. A radio is always a good idea as special messages may be broadcast by the authorities - of course a good understanding of Spanish will be very helpful. Take you mobile telephone and if possible a spare battery.

Think about emptying part of your swimming pool - especially if were it to flood the overflowing water were to end up in your house.

Move furniture and other movable objects to the upper floor of your house. Disconnect any electrical appliances or equipment that cannot be moved, but don't touch them if you are wet or are standing in water.

Do not stack sandbags around the outside walls of your house to keep flood waters out of your basement. Water seeping down through the earth may collect around the basement walls and under the floor, creating pressure that could damage the walls or else raise the entire basement and cause it to "float" out of the ground.

Lock house doors and windows. Park your car in the garage or driveway, close the windows, and lock it (unless you are driving to your new temporary location).

Travel with care. Leave early enough so as not to be marooned by flooded roads or fallen trees. Don't try to cross a stream or a pool of water unless you are certain that the water will not be above your knees all the way across. Sometimes the water will hide a bridge or a part of the road that has been washed out. If you decide it is safe to drive across, put your car in low gear and drive very slowly, to avoid splashing water into your engine and causing it to stop. Remember that your brakes may not work well after the wheels of your car have been in deep water. Try them out a few times when you reach the other side.

In many areas, unusually heavy rains may cause quick, or flash, floods. Small creeks, gullies, dry streambeds, etc., frequently flood very quickly and endanger people, sometimes before any warning can be given. If you see any possibility of a flash flood occurring where you are, move immediately to a safer location (don't wait for instructions to move), and then notify your local authorities of the danger, so other people can be warned.