The summer of 2023 is the third warmest in Castilla y León along with that of 2017 being only surpassed by those of 2022 and 2003

• The Government delegate, Virginia Barcones, has presented the summer climate summary and offers the prediction of AEMET for the autumn • The highest temperature peak reached the full heat wave, on August 23, in Miranda de Ebro where it reached 44.1 degrees • The hydrological balance highlights the big difference between the precipitation recorded in the month of June, with a surplus of 121%, and the precipitation deficit of 70% and 83% in July and August • At the Ávila observatory the average temperature during the summer was 21.6 degrees, 1.5 more than its normal value, 33 mL more

September 18, 2023.- The Government delegate in Castilla y León, Virginia Barcones, presented the summer weather summary in the Community, a summer that has been very warm and humid. Likewise, it has released the weather forecast of the State Meteorological Agency, AEMET, for the months of October, November and December.

The balance sheet took place in the Subdelegation of the Government in Ávila, where Virginia Barcones was accompanied by the Subdelegate of the Government in that province, Fernando Galeano, and the territorial delegate of AEMET in Castilla y León, Manuel Mora.

The government delegate in Castilla y León, has thanked AEMET for its work on these predictions, a work that is increasingly necessary. “We are immersed in a moment of climate change that is perhaps behind some of the explosive meteorological phenomena that we experience and that undoubtedly makes us wonder if ‘time has gone crazy’,” he said.

He explained that the accurate warnings issued within the Meteoalert plan, which is the National Plan for Prediction and Monitoring of Adverse Weather Phenomena, are fundamental for the protection of lives and property. In this regard, he has invited the citizens of Castilla y León to be attentive to these warnings as they can be key “to safeguard property and life itself”.

The summer in Castilla y León that ends this week is positioned as the third warmest (next to the year 2017), taking into account the data since 1913, date from which more than 10 stations are available to have records. Only the summers of 2022 and 2003 have been warmer summers. From the pluviometric point of view, the great difference between the precipitation recorded in the month of June, with a surplus of 121%, and that corresponding to the months of July and August, both with precipitation deficit, 70% and 83% respectively, taking as reference the period 1991-2020.

For that reason, with all these data in terms of temperatures and hydrological values, it can be said that the summer of 2023 in Castilla y León was “very warm and humid”, the delegate has indicated.

In terms of temperatures, it should be noted that the averages recorded in the June-August quarter of 2023 have been above what is usual. Specifically 1.2 degrees Celsius, being a very warm summer in most of the Community, and extremely warm in very localized areas of the western half of the Community.

In the case of the province of Ávila the average temperature was 21.6 degrees, 1.5 degrees above its normal value taking the period 1991-2020 as a reference.

Throughout the quarter, there were 40 days in which the thermometers exceeded or equalled 30 degrees Celsius. Last year there were 53 days that reached that record while the average between 1991-2020 was 34 days.

In terms of recorded values, the highest temperature recorded in Castilla y León was 44.1 degrees on August 23, in full heat wave, in Miranda de Ebro (Burgos); while the lowest minimum was given to Cuéllar (Segovia) with a value of 1.5 degrees on August 28.

There are also records of precipitation and absence of precipitation. In this way, on June 9, Zamora recorded rainfall with an intensity of up to 85.2 liters per square meter in one hour, while in July the record was 0 L/ m2.

Regarding rainfall data, it should be noted that at a global level the balance is of wet season in most of the Community, being normal in the central area and in the north and east of Burgos, even reaching very humid in scattered areas very localized.

The average rainfall, taking into account all the seasons, was 87.4 liters per square meter, producing a surplus of around 16%. Most of the stations recorded values between 61.7 and 116.2 litres square meters.

In Ávila, 83 liters per square meter were collected, 33 liters more than its normal value taking the period 1991-2020 as a reference.

THE FORECAST FOR FALL

As for the AEMET predictions for this fall, for the months of October, November and December, it will most likely have a warm and humid character

During the presentation of the balance sheet, Virginia Barcones made reference to the report on the state of the climate in Spain 2022 prepared by AEMET, a work that is consolidated as a reference guide to know the most outstanding aspects of climate behavior in our country. “This report confirms the trend of recent years, the gradual increase in temperatures as a result of climate change,” said the delegate. Those who have a special interest in knowing all the data can access the report through the website of the Spanish Meteorological Agency.

Before concluding, Barcones explained that the measurements made by man have a value of great importance for AEMET scientists. In this regard, he reminded the fans of meteorology that AEMET has a network of collaborators throughout Castilla y León that are relevant when collecting data, especially in rainfall.

These data complement the main observation network of AEMET, and contribute to a better knowledge of the climate as verified during the recent episode intense rainfall associated with a DANA, in which the collaborator of Villacastín (Segovia) reported a precipitation of 165 liters per square meter accumulated during the day of September 3.

In this regard, the Government delegate recalled that anyone who wants to become a collaborator of the State Meteorological Agency only has to contact the AEMET Delegation in Valladolid or, failing that, contact them through the Government subdelegations. After this contact, they will be informed about what this collaboration consists of and will be provided with the appropriate equipment to carry it out.