VILANOVA DE SAU, Spain — Over the past year, Spain has grappled with a severe drought that significantly diminished water levels in reservoirs, including one situated north of Barcelona. This drop in water levels exposed the medieval Sant Roma de Sau church, which had long been submerged. However, recent weeks have brought about a dramatic shift in weather patterns, leading to rising water levels that have once again engulfed the historic church.
This relief from drought has come with its own challenges. Flash floods swept through the country, prompting the evacuation of hundreds of residents, the closure of schools and highways, and significant damage as vehicles were swept away. While it remains complex to attribute specific weather events directly to climate change, experts agree that climate shifts are exacerbating the severity of weather extremes, causing fluctuations between dry spells and intense rainfall.
The recent floods struck only a few months after a fatal inundation in Valencia, emphasizing the volatile weather conditions that helped lift Spain out of its prolonged drought. During the first half of March, rainfall exceeded twice the typical average for the month, according to the national weather agency, AEMET. This substantial precipitation affected even traditionally dry regions, such as Andalusia in the south, where swollen rivers led to mass evacuations.
Madrid experienced more rainfall in the initial weeks of March than it had seen in any month since records began over a century ago, Rubén del Campo, an AEMET meteorologist, reported. However, such weather variability is not unusual for Spain. Daniel Argüeso, a climate scientist at Spain’s University of the Balearic Islands, explains that while extended droughts often conclude with intense rains, the intensity experienced recently was exceptional.
As a result of the rains, the drought that began in 2023 has, for the time being, ended. Reservoirs across the nation are now about 66% full on average, marking a significant improvement, as noted by the country’s environment ministry. The Sau reservoir, crucial for Barcelona’s water supply, currently stands at 48% capacity, a stark improvement from last year’s figure of under 5%.
For residents like Jordi Galabardes and his wife Montse Bufils from San Martin Sescorts, this is welcoming news. Last year, they faced garden watering restrictions due to the dire water shortage. Now, with reservoirs replenished, there’s hope for recovery. “In just three weeks, it’s filled up a lot, which gives hope that we can recover all this,” said Galabardes.
The longevity of these improved water levels depends on upcoming spring rainfall and the forthcoming summer conditions. Climate experts project that Spain will most likely avoid water restrictions at least through the summer months. Nonetheless, del Campo cautioned, “We’ve come out of drought, but it’s not that there is a massive excess of water. Spain is a country where water resources are never abundant.”
The role of climate change in influencing Spain’s weather swings is an increasing concern. Rising global temperatures are accelerating the hydrological cycle, which is responsible for more extreme weather events, such as severe droughts and heavy rainfall. According to researchers, warmer air can hold about 7% more water per Celsius degree, leading to intensified precipitation when it does occur.
Jorge Olcina, a geography professor at the University of Alicante, remarked on the changes in Spain’s traditionally stable weather patterns. He noted, “We can now go several months without a drop of rain, and then have a major storm again in the summer. In other words, we’re losing the regularity of the rains.” However, identifying a direct link between a singular event, like March’s rainfall, and climate change remains complex due to the inherent variability in Spain’s climate, Argüeso stated.