Catalonia experiences its wettest July in a century

BarcelonaCatalonia has experienced one of its wettest Julys in the last hundred years in 2025, comparable to the summer months of 1977, 1960 and 1943, and only surpassed by 1932, when in towns such as Tossa de Mar (Selva) up to 186 liters per meter3/m were reached. of Catalonia (Meteocat), this year, although the exact values have been slightly lower, rainfall has multiplied by two, three or even four times the usual climatic average for the month of July in many areas of the country

Most of the rain was concentrated in a few days. recorded 123.2 mm in Inglés (Selva), while on the 12th, the passage of a small DANA caused intense and extensive storms in the pre-coastal area, with accumulations exceeding 100 mm. (Maresme).

However, the western Pyrenees has been one of the exceptions: there, July has been dry, even below normal, "The month of July is, outside the Pyrenees, the one that climatically receives the least rainfall of the year" very rare."

Change in thermal trend

July also marked a turning point compared to June, which was exceptionally warm. The arrival of several cooler air masses tempered temperatures, with an uneven balance between the coast and inland. Along the coast, average temperatures were between one and two degrees above normal, probably due to the thermal inertia of the sea. But in areas of the Pre-Pyrenees and northern Central Catalonia, the month was even cool. "July was the coolest since 2014 in some inland areas," notes Anna Rius, head of Meteocat's climate services.

In some mountain and inland areas, an unusual event occurred: June was warmer than July, breaking with the usual weather pattern.

Between rain and fire

Despite widespread rainfall, the irregularity of the precipitation has not prevented the outbreak of forest fires. While some regions have accumulated above-average liters of water, others have seen vegetation remain dry and exposed to favorable conditions for fire spread.

Two of the most serious fires of the month occurred in Segarra and Paüls (Baix Ebre). The first destroyed more than 6,500 hectares and the second, more than 3,300, in the heart of Els Ports Natural Park. Occasionally high temperatures, dry wind, and an accumulation of flammable plant material after months of water stress explain how these fires were triggered in a seemingly humid environment.

The contrast between torrential rains in some areas and parched soils just a few kilometers away highlights the complexity of the Mediterranean climate. According to experts, this extreme variability in precipitation patterns, combined with intermittent heat waves, increases the risk of fires even in summers that are statistically humid.