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LEARNING SPANISH

May 40th: Why an old Spanish weather saying rings true this week

There’s a well-known expression in Spain that you might hear being used these days as the country prepares for some stormy weather.

Published: 11 June 2019 16:42 CEST
Updated: 10 June 2024 14:39 CEST
May 40th: Why an old Spanish weather saying rings true this week
So even though in 19th century Spain a sayo or tunic may have been the best way to stay dry, we suggest that you keep your raincoat handy because you may well need it in the next few days. (Photo by LEON NEAL / AFP)

Hasta el cuarenta de mayo no te quites el sayo.

If translated literally into English, this Spanish saying means ‘until May 40th, don’t take off your tunic’.

May 40th doesn’t correspond to an actual date in the Spanish calendar and it’s not as if many Spaniards wear tunics anymore either.

The expression – which first appeared in a poem by Rodriguez Marón dating from 1896 – is used when the weather during the first ten days of June takes a turn for the worse, even though the summer heat has technically already started.

In other words – don’t be so quick to pack away your winter and spring clothes until you are sure summer is well and truly here.

And this week this expression rings true once again.

So far in June Spain has seen the mercury rise above 30C in large parts of the country and nearly hit 40C in some places in the southern Andalusia region, but now a DANA has taken hold of much of the territory, bringing heavy rain to much of mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands, with June 10th (or May 40th) the wettest day of all. This unseasonably cool and rainy weather is set to continue until June 13th.

So even though in 19th century Spain a sayo or tunic may have been the best way to stay dry, we suggest that you keep your raincoat handy because you may well need it in the next few days.

READ ALSO: Sweating like a chicken: 18 Spanish phrases to complain about the heat like a true Spaniard

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WEATHER

Northern Spain braces for abnormally high spring tides

Spain’s northern regions, particularly Galicia and the Basque Country, are due to experience some of the highest spring tides in the past 19 years, causing gigantic waves, flooding and possible destruction to coastal structures.

Published: 19 September 2024 09:06 CEST
Northern Spain braces for abnormally high spring tides

Despite the name, spring tides occur throughout the year when the Moon is either new or full and when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are aligned and there is the greatest difference between high and low tide.

In Spanish they’re known as mareas vivas and occur here more frequently in September and March.

But on this occasion other factors have been added into the mix that will make these tides exceptionally high, even up to half a metre more than in previous years. And the same will happen with low tide, which will be abnormally low.

These factors include if the moon is closer than usual to the Earth or if it is above the Earth’s equator.

The climax of these conditions will be reached this Wednesday September 18th, coinciding with the full Moon, but the main impact of this won’t be felt until Thursday.

The phenomena is expected last at least until Friday and will rise the tides on practically the entire northern coast, with waves in some areas reaching a height of five metres.

The Marine and Food Research Center of the Basque Country (AZTI) has reported that this week, between this Tuesday and Friday, “exceptionally high” spring tides will be recorded in the Bay of Biscay, which will coincide, depending on the days, between 5 and 8pm.

The Basque towns of Zarautz, Pasaia and Irun have been put on yellow alert and could even experience waves close to five metres.

In Galicia, in the next couple of days, they could even experience the highest spring tides in the past 19 years.

The maximum predicted record will be reached in the Foz estuary in Galicia on Thursday September 19th around 6pm, when the high tide will reach a height of 4.6 metres.

In Ferrol and A Coruña, other strategic points on the Galician coast, it will be 4.4 metres, while in the estuaries of the Costa da Morte it will reach 4.3 metres, and in those of Vigo and Pontevedra waves will be an estimated at 4.2 metres.

Regions along the Cantabrian Sea such as Cantabria and Asturias will also be affected with bigger waves and higher tides than normal. While reports haven’t indicated predictions as high as the waves in Galicia and the Basque Country, people there still need to be on the lookout for high tides in the late afternoon and evening of Thursday.

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