03 March 2012 / by Radmila Gurkova

The rain 'NOT' in Spain

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVmU3iANbgk

''The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain''

Have you heard this expression before?
It is from My Fair Lady, a musical based upon George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion.
It is very common for practicing pronunciation, especially of -ei-

However did you know that there has now ben no rain in Spain for three months?
This will be the direst period during the winter months since the 1940'sThe Spanish State Meteorological Agency - AEMET said that February would end without more rainfall and they now can confirm it is a drought. This is an 'EXTRAORDINARY DRY CHARACTER'.

In only three months Spain has seen 58 litres of rain per square metre.
It's not rained in Leon for 26 days and Barcelona for 44 days - This must be a record?
Is it a global PHENOMENON or just the usual deforestation?
In the coming months agricultural businesses will suffer putting more strain on economic and financial situation causing more disruption.

... now everyone sing along to the video!

DEBATE

What will happen if it doesn't rain in Spain all year long?

Is weather always the topic for SMALL TALK?

What are the other main points of discussion in Spain?

KEYWORDS

Word	Image	Definition	Example	Listen
Driest		Superlative of dry.	A dry climate; the driest season	Listen
Drought		Severe lack of water, no moisture	Very hot countries have DROUGHTS	Listen
Phenomenon		A fact, circumstance, event	Ipads are a relatively new phenomenon.	Listen
Deforestation		To cut down the trees in a forest.	Deforestation of the Amazon is shortening the life of the planet.	Listen
Drink		To ingest a liquid	I drink coffee in the morning.	Listen
Rain		When water falls from the sky	It was raining all day	Listen
Weather		What the temperature and climate is like.	The weather was beautiful	Listen
Longest		Superlative of long	Ana's hair is the longest in the class.	Listen