The months-long drought in Spain has come to an end, with the country’s reservoirs now filled to an average of 66%—the highest level in the last decade, according to the Ministry of Environmental Transition.
However, the much-needed rainfall has also resulted in severe flooding, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate their homes. According to Spain’s national meteorological agency, AEMET, in the first three weeks of March, the country received more than twice the monthly average rainfall. In Madrid, precipitation levels surpassed all monthly records since official monitoring began in 1893. Southern regions, such as Andalusia, were particularly affected, with rivers overflowing and causing widespread flooding.
Long periods of drought in Spain are often followed by heavy rains, but precipitation of this magnitude remains extremely rare. The Sau Reservoir, which supplies water to Barcelona, is now at 48% capacity—up from less than 5% at the same time last year. However, scientists warn that extreme weather events are becoming more frequent due to climate change. The intensification of the hydrological cycle is leading to sharper shifts between droughts and downpours, with global warming exacerbating these patterns.
Despite the challenges, Spain is expected to avoid water restrictions at least until the summer. However, the long-term outlook will depend on the amount of rainfall in the coming months and how hot the summer will be.
