Stories continue to appear in the media about the need for rain to fill the reservoirs supplying the Costa del Sol. The latest unsettled spell affecting Malaga and the rest of southern Spain is producing some precious water but so far the autumn and early part of the winter have given rainfall totals well below the long-term average.
The End of Summer The almost complete absence of rainfall during the summer months on the Costa del Sol is a normal part of the annual climate. The parched grass and tired-looking trees observed across most of Andalucia by mid September is something to be expected by the natural flora and fauna. By the end of September, in many years, the first thundery downpours of the season have settled the dust and turned those white cars from brown to a mottled grey colour.
The Autumn Months Last September (2005) there was very little in the way of rain with just 1 mm (0.04 inches) recorded at this site, and a mere 0.8 mm (0.03 inches) at Malaga Airport . October and November are the two autumn months when the local authorities hope for significant rainfall. In previous years there have been catastrophic floods, and in other years the months have remained dry and sunny, such are the vagaries of the Andalucian climate. In 2005, October and November had a total of 81 mm (3.2 inches) at this site, equally divided between the 2 months, and although this may appear to be a large amount, it is only just over half the average of 156 mm (6.1 inches). The airport in Malaga fared somewhat better with a 2 month total of 120 mm (4.7 inches).
December During December, although rain frequently threatened to fall, totals were very low with 4.3 mm (0.17 inches) at this site, an amount that represents a mere 6% of the monthly average. The main feature of the weather during December was the persistent east to southeast wind that blew from the 20th to 23rd. the wind was at it's worst on the morning of the 22nd when gusts to near-gale force occurred. The sea became wild as the strong winds buffetted the coast and huge rollers, breaking many metres from the shore-line, ran up the beaches from Algeciras to Motril and beyond. The air became thick with salt and a remarkable transformation occurred to the the shrubs and trees near the coast.
Salt 'burnt' Vegetation On the 19th of December, the grass and palm trees along the Costa del Sol were green, the trees in the 'Paseo del Parque' Malaga provided a verdant spectacle for those strolling along this beautiful promenade, and hibiscuses were blooming everywhere . By the end of the 22nd a totally different vista greeted the arriving tourist. Palm fronds littered the streets, flowers had disappeared and the leaves (those that hadn't been torn from their branches) had, along with much of the grass, turned a yellow-brown colour. No doubt the natural vegetation will recover from this salty onslaught, but the lack of rain to dilute the salt may sound the death knell for some of the more exotic species of plants brought to the region by the enthusiastic gardeners.
January Rains So far this month (January 2006) some useful rain has occurred with the 14.5 mm (0.57 inches) on the 16th making it the wettest single day since 14th November. The total of 32 mm (1.26 inches) of rain for the first 16 days of the month is about average for January so, of course, much more is needed. Nevertheless, the rain has helped the plants and shrubs to recover from excess of salt, and for the skiers in the Sierra Nevada the webcams ( http://www2.sierranevadaski.com/En%20Pista/WEB%20C%20A%20M%20S ) suggest a boost to the snow depths and a successful second half of the season for the snow seekers who head inland from the Costa del Sol.
