Catalonia 2050: 3 degrees warmer and a 40% decline in rainfall
Pyrenees will be region most affected by climate change, while coast will also experience longer and warmer summers
By the mid-21st century, Catalonia as a whole will be at least an average of 3 degrees Celsius warmer and experience an astounding 40% decline in rainfall.
These are the main conclusions of a Catalan Meteorological Service report on climate change projections between 2021 and 2050 based on a high-emissions scenario, which also points to the Pyrenees mountains region as the area set to be most affected by these forecasts.
According to these predictions, summer-like weather will end up extending from late spring to early fall, and maximum highs could increase by 4ºC while lows could rise by 3ºC.
And although the Pyrenees may experience the most extreme weather changes, the coast is not in the clear either: the number of tropical nights, that is to say, nights where temperatures do not drop below 20ºC, will rise considerably, the report warns.
Meanwhile, in inland and mountainous regions, temperatures will also climb, which in turn will reduce the number of colder days annually.
The Catalan Meteorological Service predictions also show that by 2050 there will be fewer days with light showers, but also more days with heavy rainfall, especially in the southern Ebre river region which only months ago was battered by Storm Gloria.
Meanwhile, the western Catalan region of Lleida, home to much agricultural land, will face a greater risk of drought in the next 30 years.