MADRID – Europe experienced its warmest summer on record in 2021, which was linked to extreme flooding, fires, melting ice, and drought. Last year in Spain it was warmer than normal and the beginning of 2022 also showed higher temperatures than is usual.
In winters, even the highest daily values since 1961 were measured. In addition, only 45% of the normal average amount of precipitation fell in winter. Average, because the Spanish weather service AEMET points out that less than a quarter of the usual rain has fallen in the Mediterranean.
In a statement, AEMET said it rained more than usual only in the north of the Basque Country and Navarre. However, this changed in March and April as precipitation increased across the board. Spring was wetter than usual in many areas in eastern Spain, such as Valencia and Murcia, reports eltiempo.com.
Will it be drier than usual?
The question now is whether the spring rains have compensated for the lack of precipitation during the winter months. The answer is no! The rains have not been able to alleviate the drought. On the Atlantic side of the country, the shortage of precipitation has only increased, while in the east of the country it has rained more than usual.
Aemet predicts that it will again rain less than usual on the Atlantic side in north-western Spain. There the temperatures going into summer will also be higher than the normal values.
Water reserves at half capacity
Added 73 cubic hectometres to the water reserve this week, representing just under 0.1% of the total, according to data from the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge. Currently, the reservoirs contain 28,452 cubic hectometres and are at 50.7% of their total capacity.
Related article: Drought drains Spanish reservoirs
