The month of October, was 2,4 degrees Celsius higher than the average temperature, making it the fourth warmest since 1971, after 1995, 1997 and 2006. In general, the period was “very warm” in most of Spain, and was “extremely warm” in large areas of central and southern Peninsula and in eastern and north western Galicia, Castile and Leon, as reported the State Meteorological Agency.

Temperatures were positive in all regions, reaching increases higher than 3 degrees Celsius in central and northern Andalusia, south and east of Castilla-La Mancha and Castilla y Leon South, while in the rest of Spain average temperatures were maintained between 2 or 3 degrees Celsius above normal.

Only the Mediterranean regions and in the eastern half of the communities of the Cantabrian side were cooler, where temperatures were 2 degrees Celsius below normal. On the other hand, in the Balearics October was “slightly warmer than normal” at temperatures below 1 degree Celsius increase, while in the Canaries the month was “very warm to extremely warm.”

Absolute record in Pamplona

Equally striking were the high values of the last days of the month, which topped 30 degrees Celsius in parts of Andalusia, Murcia, southeast of Castilla-La Mancha, Valencia and inside the easternmost islands of the Canaries. Stresses also the case in Pamplona, where the 5th of October, reached all-time record for October at 31,7 degrees Celsius.

By contrast, the lower minimum, was between 16 and 19 October and extensive frosts in inland areas of the northern half of Spain.

As for the rain, october as a whole was “somewhat drier than normal” with an average rainfall of 53 liters per square meter, ie 77 per cent of the average value of October on the reference period 1971-2000 which is 69 liters per square meter.

By contrast, October was “particularly deficient, in rain in the Levant and in Asturias, where it was “very dry”. Furthermore, in the Balearic and Canary Islands, the month was “generally dry” and even “very dry” in Tenerife.