Spain records hottest and driest April on record
Drought-stricken Spain says last month was the hottest and driest April since records began in 1961
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Drought-stricken Spain says last month was the hottest and driest April since records began in 1961.
The State Meteorological Agency, known by the Spanish acronym AEMET, said Monday the average daily temperature in April was 14.9 degrees Celsius (58.8 Fahrenheit), that is 3 degrees Celsius above the average.
AEMET said average maximum temperatures during the month were up by 4.7 Celsius.
Rainfall was a fifth of what would normally be expected in the month, making it the driest April on record in Spain.
Last year was Spain’s hottest since record-keeping started in 1961, and also the country’s sixth driest.
Three years of scant rainfall and high temperatures put the country officially into long-term drought earlier this year.
A flash study by a group of international scientists last week found that record-breaking April temperatures in Spain, Portugal and northern Africa were made 100 times more likely by human-caused climate change and would have been almost impossible in the past.
The government has requested emergency funds from the European Union to support farmers and ranchers whose crops are being affected by the situation.
___ Follow AP’s climate and environment coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment