Spain Experiences Unusually Warm Winter Temperatures
As Spain basked in unseasonably warm weather with temperatures soaring above 20°C, meteorologists raised concerns that the country has now endured a second consecutive winter without experiencing a cold wave. Reports from Spanish television showcased sunbathers enjoying the beach in Cadiz, where temperatures reached as high as 23°C in various regions.
The Spanish state meteorological agency, AEMET, predicted that temperatures would remain above normal for Andalusia as February drew to a close. Samuel Biener, a meteorologist at Meteored, a prominent weather forecasting company, noted that if Spain goes three winters without a cold wave, it would mark a historic first since record-keeping began.
A cold wave is officially defined as a significant weather phenomenon characterized by a sharp and sustained drop in air temperature across a large geographical area for at least two consecutive days, according to the United Nations. While Spain has indeed faced heavy snowfall and lower temperatures throughout the winter months, none have been classified as a true “cold wave.”
“What we have observed during January and February, as well as in the ongoing winter of 2023-2024, is the absence of a potent cold wave impacting Spain,” Mr. Biener explained to 20.minutos, an online news outlet. “What we are currently witnessing is a trend where the extremely low temperatures, which used to be more frequent, are now increasingly rare.”
Mr. Biener suggested that the lack of a cold wave for the second year in a row might be indicative of climate change. He emphasized the importance of distinguishing between general winter cold and the specific phenomenon of cold waves, which require at least three consecutive days of low temperatures affecting a minimum of 10 percent of weather stations that record temperature data. To qualify, air temperatures must dip at least 5 percent below the historical averages recorded between 1971 and 2000.
In light of these developments, Mr. Biener remarked, “In recent years, we have seen a notable increase in the prevalence of subtropical air masses over Spain.” According to his analysis, 2025 is shaping up to be the second consecutive year without a cold wave, although he noted that such occurrences are not entirely unprecedented in Spain’s climatic history. Instances of similar patterns were recorded between 1997 and 1998, 2000 and 2001, and again from 2013 to 2014.
“We hope for a change next year, as failing to experience a cold wave for three consecutive years would represent a historic anomaly in our records,” he added. Mr. Biener also pointed out that this February has seen temperatures averaging between 1°C and 3°C above the norm, raising the possibility that this winter could become one of the warmest on record.
