Prepare for brutal summer after second hottest spring in 64 years, warns Murcia government
More record-breaking heat is on the way as the Region of Murcia braces itself for another summer sizzler
There seems to be little argument amongst the experts now that the Region of Murcia is in for a sizzling summer. Following a spring season that ranked as the second hottest in 64 years, it's time to prepare for some serious sunshine. The Murcia government is warning residents to expect a scorcher of a summer, so it might just be time to break out those fans and stock up on the sun screen.
The stage was set for a scorching high season with June's above-average day-time temperatures, following an exceptionally warm spring. March, April and May all played their part, with March and April being very warm and May taking the crown as a truly sweltering month, according to official data. So, it's no surprise that we're in for a toasty few months ahead.
This spring, the Region recorded an average temperature of 16.3°C, making it the second warmest in at least 64 years. The average maximum temperature reached 22.9°C, a full 2°C above normal, while the average minimum was 9.7°C, a cosy 0.9°C above average.
If we break it down month by month, March 2024, with an average temperature of 13.8°C, was the fourth warmest in the series. April kept the heat coming, with an average of 15.9°C, earning the title of the fifth warmest. Then, May continued the trend with an average of 19.2°C, rounding off a trio of toasty months.
Not only was spring exceptionally warm, but it was also very dry. The Region of Murcia received just 33.6 litres per square metre of rain, a mere 35% of the average. April and May were particularly parched, with just 11.5 and 4.3 litres per square metre, respectively.
In the Region, it was the sixth driest spring season in at least the last 64 years and the second driest of the 21st century, only behind 2014.
Bad news for water supplies but good news for sun-seekers, who can expect another dry, sizzling summer if this trend continues as expected.
It wasn't all sunshine and warm temperatures, though. Spring also brought 20 days of strong winds, with gusts reaching up to 101kmh during Storm Nelson in March. And, on a few occasions, the higher altitudes even saw a dusting of snow, adding a touch of winter magic to the otherwise warm season.
But these days, snow is the farthest thing from anyone's mind and it's likely that the weather alerts over the next few weeks will be for heatwaves rather than storms.
Remember that during the hot summer of 2023, the Region of Murcia was one of the places in Europe that suffered the most days of what’s known as 'thermal stress'. In the corner of southern Spain, around 40 days were recorded between June and September when the real-feel temperature ranged between 38 and 46ºC.
Now, all we can do is wait and see if the experts are right that the 2024 thermometers may reach even loftier heights.
Find all the latest weather and climate change news here or join our Murcia Weather Watch Facebook group for regular updates
Image: AEMET Delegación Territorial en Murcia
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