Catalonia experiences its hottest spring in history

BarcelonaGlobal warming is advancing and temperatures continue to rise relentlessly. This spring has been no exception. In fact, Catalonia has experienced the warmest spring since records began, according to data from the seasonal climate bulletin published by the Meteorological Service of Catalonia (Meteocat). This report covers the three months of meteorological spring – March, May, and June – even though astronomical summer will not officially arrive until June 21.

The total of the three months has registered temperature anomalies of more than one degree in more than 95% of the country compared to the reference average for the years 1991-2020. But in several regions of the Lleida demarcation, in the Garraf massif or in Collsacabra, this anomaly has reached more than 2 degrees. Only on the coast and pre-coast has the atypical heat for the season been more moderate.

"This warm character of spring has been determined by the month of April, with an unusually high and persistent temperature for the time of year, and the end of May, with abundant records of maximum and minimum temperatures," explains in the report Anna Rius, head of the climate services team at Meteocat, who analyzes data from almost 200 automatic weather stations.

The Fabra Observatory in Barcelona stands out, which, with 113 years of data, has also registered the warmest spring in its entire climatic series. As for the other century-old observatory, that of the Ebre (Baix Ebre), it has experienced the fourth warmest spring in 122 years.

April and the heatwave in May, key

Throughout the spring, there have been several very marked rises and falls in temperatures. In fact, the weather in March was quite usual for the time of year, and the first fortnight of May registered temperatures even below average. A variability that, according to Meteocat, can “induce the perception of a cool spring”.

But nothing could be further from the truth. April was exceptionally warm persistently due to the constant incursion of warm air masses from North Africa. Only the coast was saved from so much heat, thanks to the influence of a sea that was still cool for the time of year. And the second fortnight of May was marked by a heatwave that was historic, both for its persistence and for the records that were achieved in Catalonia and in much of Europe.

The 39.5°C on the 29th in Vinebre (Ribera d'Ebre) became the new absolute record for the highest maximum ever reached in May in Catalonia. More than 70 Meteocat stations registered temperatures of 35°C or more, with a historic total of 173 records and a record number of days above this figure. In addition, 66 out of 183 stations reached their maximum temperature record for the month, especially on the 28th and 29th.

This May has also broken the record for tropical nights, with 47 in about twenty different observatories. Barcelona has experienced seven consecutive nights with these values, with a record at the Fabra Observatory of 23.4°C minimum. Portbou also stands out, where on the 28th the temperature did not drop below 28°C, a new torrid and record minimum for May.

Regarding precipitation, after an exceptionally rainy winter, this spring it has been irregular and scarce in many regions. The spring has been dry in 60% of the territory, especially in regions such as La Noguera or El Pla d'Urgell, but humid in eastern Pyrenees, in the Transversal mountain range or in the Ports massif. Some Pyrenean peaks have registered more than 450 l/m².