 THIS May has been the driest and second-hottest in over 60 years, according to the State meteorological agency, AEMET.
The Mediterranean and south coasts in particular have seen unprecedented climates which are more akin to those found in July.
Temperatures have been an average of 2.5ēC higher, although in practice, parts of the coast were sweltering as the mercury hit the high 30s and even 40s at a time of year when it rarely creeps above 20ēC to 25ēCC.
And rainfall has been 88 per cent lower than average, says AEMET, being a mere 5.8 litres per square metre, or 0.58mm.
This means last month was the driest May since 1950, and the second-hottest in over 30 years, beaten only by May 1999.
Temperatures on Sunday, May 13 the hottest day of the month rose to 39.2ēC and 39.3ēC in Xātiva and Miramar (Valencia) respectively, and 39.7ēC in Carcaixent (Valencia).
Yesterday and today saw the thermometer shoot up to between 29ēC and 34ēC in the shade along the Mediterranean coast, despite predictions of a drop in temperatures after the May heatwave. |
