The Comunitat Valenciana is experiencing its second driest year on record, despite a wetter-than-usual summer. According to the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (Aemet), the region has faced significant rainfall shortages throughout the hydrological year.
As the region moves into autumn, forecasts predict warm and dry conditions, raising concerns about ongoing droughts.
A hot and wet summer
The summer of 2024 (June to August) was marked by both warmth and higher-than-average rainfall in the Comunitat Valenciana. The average temperature was 24.4ºC, 1.1ºC higher than the usual average of 23.3ºC. Rainfall levels were also higher than normal, with an accumulated total of 87.3 litres per square metre, which is 45% above the historical average of 60 litres per square metre.
This summer was the fifth warmest since records began in 1950, surpassed only by the summers of 2012, 2023, 2003, and the hottest year on record, 2022. Despite the heat, the summer was also the twentieth wettest in recent history, reflecting the region’s complex and unpredictable climate patterns.
Drought conditions persist
Despite the increase in summer rainfall, Valencia remains in a drought. As the 2023-2024 hydrological year draws to a close, the region faces a 46% rainfall deficit, making it the second driest year on record. The driest year remains 2013-2014, which saw similar rainfall shortages.
Although September has been the wettest month of the current hydrological year, the accumulated rainfall has done little to replenish water reserves. While the rain has temporarily eased the need for irrigation, it has not been enough to significantly fill the region’s reservoirs, leaving the area vulnerable to ongoing water shortages.
A warm and dry autumn ahead
Looking ahead, Aemet predicts that the coming autumn will be both warm and dry, exacerbating existing drought conditions. The combination of rising temperatures and continued lack of rain is expected to put further strain on the region’s water resources, with potential consequences for agriculture and daily life in Valencia.