Spain sees hottest, second-driest spring on record

OVIEDO, Spain

Spain has registered its hottest and second-driest spring on record, the country’s meteorological agency reported on Wednesday.

The average spring temperature was 14.2 C (57.6 F), which was 1.8 C warmer than the average since 1991 and 0.3 C warmer than the previous hottest spring on record from 1997.

In the face of accelerating climate change, three of Spain's last four seasons have been record-breaking in terms of heat – including this spring, last autumn, and last summer. Moreover, 2022 marked the hottest year ever recorded in the country, whose meteorological records trace back to 1961.

Meanwhile, spring 2023 ranks as the second driest, only outdone by 1995.

As reported by Aemet, Spain’s meteorological agency, this spring was parched throughout the country except for the southeast, which endured heavy rainfall and even destructive storms in late May.

Despite the late-May rainfall, Spain continues to grapple with a drought that officially got the label of "long duration" in December 2022. In some parts of the country, the drought has persisted even longer, now breaking records for the longest-lasting in parts of Andalusia.

The good news is that Aemet predicts that this summer may see more storms and rainfall than normal. However, the meteorologists temper the optimism, pointing out that Spain never gets a lot of rain in the warmest months.

Drawing from data provided by the EU's Copernicus climate service, Aemet also warns that Spain should brace for a particularly hot summer, potentially ranking among the top five hottest on record.