27/06/2013 00:00
TW
0
PALMA SUMMER starts today at 8.06pm, leaving behind a spring characterised by abundant rain and with higher temperatures than usual in the Balearics -- the average temperature was 1.5º Celsius higher than the average of the past 30 years.

Agustin Jansá, director of the Balearic Met Office, stressed the fact that abundant rain had fallen in the Balearics in April, in contrast with the months of May and early June, characterised by very little rain, even though it is a time of year when rainfall is frequent.

Jansá said that the heavy rain in April had allowed the water reserves to recover after a period of drought.
As of yesterday, he went on, Majorca had a surplus of rain of three per cent, Minorca a deficit of ten per cent and Ibiza and Formentera a deficit of four per cent.

This falls within normal levels, he said.
He described April as “a very hot and rainy month” throughout the Balearics, with temperatures of 1 and 2ºC above the average.

DRY
May was also a month with high temperatures, between 1.5 and 2.5º C above average, but it was also a ”dry month.” As to June, the heat continues, as does the lack of rain. The hottest day of spring was last Monday, with a temperature of 33º C in Palma.
Summer will last for 93 days and 15 hours, until autumn starts on September 23, the Met office says.
It coincides with the summer solstice as it is the longest day of the year.
There will be a total eclipse of the moon on August 28 and a partial eclipse of the sun on September 11, although neither will be visible from Spain.
There will be two meteor showers, on July 30, although visibility will be marred by the new moon, and August 13.
The National Weather Institute confirmed that summer will be hotter than usual in the Balearics and the Mediterranean area, but will be normal in the Peninsula, and slightly cooler in the Canary Islands.

Temperatures in the Balearics are expected to go up this weekend, although a cold front is due to enter the Peninsula on Monday, according to predictions.