Spain suffers from such a severe drought that not even in the last decade have there been such low values for rainfall and reservoir levels. This year's water deficit closes with 15% less than the previous year. It has been considered a very dry period in all of Spain, being the eighth year with the least rainfall since 1981.
As we know, the hydrological cycle closes in September and according to weather predictions this autumn will be quite hot and dry, with little rainfall. What can be done in such a drought situation?
Dry hydrological year
This period began in October 2016 with a month in which rainfall was below normal values, and continued with a wet November. At the end of November, with the rains that occurred, the rainfall data returned to its normal state. However, these data were due to episodes of heavy rainfall and not spread throughout the month, as has been seen in other years where the rains have allowed a balance, as mentioned in the analysis of normal precipitation values.
But later, the figures dropped, and despite the intense rainfall recorded in the southeast of the peninsula and the Balearic Islands during the months of December and January, January was also a dry month and the accumulated rainfall in the hydrological year continued to decrease. up to 18% lower than normal value in the second half of January.
The months of February and March remained more or less stable, close to normal, but after these months, spring was very dry. The hydrological deficit below the normal value after spring was 13%. In this sense, a worrying trend can be observed in the climate in the context of the decrease in rainfall in Spain.
This summer, there have been precipitation values 7% above normal. But these values have not compensated for the accumulated hydrological deficit, reaching September to be 12%.
Water deficit and drought
The hydrological year -which runs from October 1 to September 30- has closed with an average of 551 liters per square meter for the whole of Spain, which represents a 15% deficit with respect to the normal value (648 liters per square meter).
This has made this year a very dry one. Furthermore, the demand for water remains the same or even higher, so there is less and less water available. The water problem is becoming critical, and it is essential that we raise awareness about water conservation, as highlighted in the situation of the reservoirs during the drought.
Water is a very valuable resource and we have to learn to take care of it together, since we do not know when it will rain again.
