This August hasn't been the hottest of the last 30 years or of this century

DESPITE popular assumption, August this year did not turn out to be the hottest for the last 30 years, or even of this century, reported the National Weather Agency (AEMET) yesterday.

Spokesman, Angel Rivera said that nevertheless, speaking for the country as a whole, August was in general a “hot” month where the average temperature was 1.5 degrees centigrade above the norm. Only in 2003 and 2009 were average temperatures higher. In terms of heat ranking of the last 30 years and the last century, last month registered 3rd and 5th places respectively, said Rivera, adding that August this year had been as hot as July. “The 21st century is turning out to be quite hot in general,” said Rivera, but he added that rainfall for this time of year, although sparse, has been within normal limits.

Temperatures varied across Spain considerably, he continued, but in the Balearics, average temperatures were normal or even slightly lower than normal. Rivera said that regions experiencing high humidity, including the Balearics, frequently felt “hotter” than they really were. A dry heat is less noticeable.

The hottest part of the month was the heat wave that affected the country between 25th and 27th August, especially the southern and eastern regions. Thermometers reached 44 degrees Centigrade in parts of Valencia, Alicante and Murcia.

At the other end of the scale, the lowest minimum temperatures for the month were recorded between 14th and 18th August, the most extreme being just 4.5 degrees registered in the early hours of the morning in Navacerrada, in the mountainous north.

Rivera reported that although “normal” rainfall levels had been recorded in August, in some places they were slightly lower than normal. The average for the country as a whole during the month was 18 litres per square metre but extreme levels of 69.9 litres were recorded in Albacete.

He explained that as is usually the case in summer months, rainfall distribution was very uneven in August, with serious flooding reported in Andalucia last month.