There could be a shortage of cucumbers, aubergines and peppers on shelves this winter as a result of the flooding in Spain.

Ireland imports around one-third of its fruit and vegetables from the Spanish Regions directly affected by the flooding.

The Valencian Association of Farmers said their members are facing catastrophic losses, which could lead to widespread crop failures and even the permanent loss of some plantations.

On Breakfast Business today, IE University in Madrid Professor Joe Haslam said the event will have huge impacts on the Spanish economy.

"Economies run on confidence, and whenever any kind of catastrophic event like that [happens], it does affect confidence," he said.

Prof Haslam added that the knock-on effects could be felt for months to come. 

The aftermath of flooding in Alfafar, Valencia, Spain, 30-10-2024. Image: Associated Press / Alamy

Episodes of extreme weather are expected to become more common due to climate change. 

On Newstalk Breakfast today, Carlow Weather meteorologist Alan O’Reilly said Ireland will need to update our weather warning system.

“We don't have a flood warning system,” he said. 

“We have weather warning systems that frankly a lot of people don't really pay a lot of heed to anymore because they're completely county based, and we get a lot of yellow warnings. 

“We also don't have any kind of way of pushing out warning systems to people in terms of to their phones to let them know that a serious weather event is happening.” 

Climate change

Mr O’Reilly said the issue is urgent as climate change continues to bring about increasingly extreme weather events. 

“There's a lot of talk that goes into cutting emissions, and rightly so,” he said.  

“We need to work on that, but there's very little talk that goes into how to prepare for these weather events that are going to happen regardless of whether we cut our emissions by 100% or 50% or 30%.” 

County-based system

Mr O’Reilly said we should move away from the current county-based weather warning system. 

“I think the biggest issue that we have in Ireland is that it's done by a county basis,” he said 

“In a county the size of Cork, you could have a red warning required in East Cork, and maybe not even a yellow in West Cork. 

“So, we need to move away from this county by county [system], because when you hear of an orange warning in a county, and you go out and it's a wet day, you lose respect for the warning system.” 

Mr O’Reilly also said there is a troubling lack of real-time data from Ireland’s mountainous regions.

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