Spain had wettest January and February in nearly 50 years

"January and February 2026 has been the rainiest in the last 47 years, highlighting the extraordinary nature of these events. Eleven major storms swept the country from late December to mid-February, bringing heavy rain and strong winds. The Iberian Peninsula is considered a frontline region for climate change, experiencing increasingly long heatwaves that sometimes start before summer, along with more frequent episodes of intense rainfall."

"The severity of Leonardo was the footprint of climate change, noting that warmer oceans increase evaporation, while a warmer atmosphere retains more water vapour, resulting in heavier rainfall. Grazalema, one of the hardest-hit municipalities in southern Spain, saw more than a full year's expected rainfall in just a few days during the passage of Storm Leonardo in February."

"This was the eighth consecutive warm or very warm winter in Spain, with temperatures above average, a streak unprecedented in AEMET records. He forecast a 50 percent to 70 percent probability that the coming spring will also be warmer than usual."

Spain endured its wettest January and February in nearly half a century, with eleven major storms sweeping the country from late December to mid-February. The Iberian Peninsula faces intensifying climate change effects, including prolonged heatwaves and frequent intense rainfall episodes. Storm Leonardo devastated Grazalema, delivering a full year's expected rainfall in days, causing evacuations and two deaths. Warmer oceans increase evaporation while warmer atmospheres retain more water vapor, producing heavier rainfall. This marks the eighth consecutive warm or very warm winter in Spain, with temperatures above average—an unprecedented streak. Portugal similarly recorded its wettest February in 47 years. Forecasts indicate 50-70 percent probability of above-average spring temperatures.

Read at www.thelocal.es