What it is
“Gota fría” is the old name. Today it’s DANA: very cold air aloft meets a very warm Mediterranean, spawning slow, repeating thunderstorms over the same area. You get ten minutes of stair-rod rain, a pause, then another burst over the same streets. One part of town floods while the next stays almost dry. Barrancos (seasonal ravines that act as flash-flood channels) rise quickly.
Where Jávea struggles first
- Avenida del Pla (Arenal to town centre).
- Avenida dels Furs (into the Port).
- Low underpasses and barranco mouths.
- Montañar coast path, where spray and sheet water cross quickly.
- The Gorgos can be dry at breakfast and be white water rafting heavy by lunch.
The three worst events in the last 30 years
12 October 2007 — Arenal flood
- Rain: exceptional falls in a short window across the Marina Alta.
- In town: the Fontana canal overflowed; small boats were dragged and wedged under the bridge. Streets around Arenal and Primer Montañar flooded; ground floors took water; cars floated and blocked junctions.
- Aftermath: heavy damage to beach infrastructure and the promenade; long clean-up and repairs.
- We were here, it was pretty wild!
16–20 December 2016 — days of continuous rain
- Rain: several systems in a row; December totals rivalled the rest of the year.
- In town: repeated closures around Arenal; saturated approaches to the Port; underground garages flooded; sand berms used as temporary defences; short power cuts in exposed spots; traders pumping out for days.
- Aftermath: damaged pavements and street furniture; council reviewed drainage near barranco outlets and other low points.
12–14 September 2019 — regional “historic” DANA
- Rain: very high totals across the south-east; extremely uneven by neighbourhood in Jávea.
- In town: stop-start closures on Avenida del Pla and Avenida dels Furs; deep pooling on Arenal access roads and the lower Montañar; markets and events cancelled; the Arenal – Port run crawled during peak bursts.
- Aftermath: less concentrated damage than 2007 but longer lasting; streets reopened and re-closed as the ground saturated.
On alert days, reach the motorway from inland, not along the coast belt.
- CV-734 via Camí Cabanes → Gata de Gorgos / La Xara → N-332/AP-7. Best for Old Town, Montgó, Thiviers and Vía Augusta once you cut inland.
- CV-740 via Benitachell / Teulada → N-332/AP-7. Best for Balcón al Mar, La Guardia, Cap Martí and Tosalet.
- Use CV-736 (Cabo San Antonio to Dénia) only if confirmed open; it’s high and usually dry but can close for wind or rockfall.
What to do, briefly
Before an orange alert
- Move the car to a higher street if you live near Arenal, La Grava or along Montañar.
- Clear terrace and roof drains; pour a bucket through each outlet.
- Lift boxes and electrics off garage floors; test the pump.
- Charge power banks; put medicines and documents in a dry bag.
- Leave a one-page note for guests or tenants.
During
- Avoid underpasses and barranco dips. If the kerb is under water, turn round.
- Do not nose into flowing water; even shallow flow can shift a small car.
- Skip seafront parking and steep garage ramps.
- If water enters, cut power only if safe, lift what you can, and take photos (insurance) as you go.
After
- Do not switch on wet appliances. Ventilate, dehumidify, clean with fresh water, then mild disinfectant.
- Photograph damage before moving anything; keep receipts for pumps, fans and cleaning.
- Check neighbours; a blocked patio drain can backflow into the next home. Check if they are ok too!
Small fixes
- Leaf guards or domed strainers on terrace outlets.
- Simple thresholds at patio doors.
- Spare pump and hose for garages or under-builds.
- Shelving for anything that’s electrical in garages and underbuilds etc.
- A note by the fuse box showing which switch to flip in a flood.
Side note: these events are few and far between. It seems like it could be dangerous and it certainly can be. But this has been happening in Javea and its surrounding areas for centuries. The built environment is pretty well thought out and the DANAs/Gota frias do cause disruption but they are generally just a wait out scenario. Watch it from your terrace and don’t panic. Prepare with some common sense. Stock up the fridge. Don’t worry, within a few days it will be wall to wall blue skies and sunshine!
