Spain records hottest and driest April on record

Last year was Spain’s hottest since record-keeping started in 1961 (Santi Donaire/AP)

Drought-stricken Spain said last month was the hottest and driest April since records began in 1961.

The State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) said on Monday that the average daily temperature in April had been 14.9C, 3C above the average.

AEMET said average maximum temperatures during the month were up by 4.7C.

Rainfall was a fifth of what would normally be expected in the month, making it the driest April on record in Spain.

Maximum temperatures were up by 4.7C throughout April (Paul White/AP)

Last year was Spain’s hottest since record-keeping started in 1961, and also the country’s sixth driest.

Three years of scant rainfall and high temperatures put the country officially into long-term drought earlier this year.

A flash study by a group of international scientists last week found that record-breaking April temperatures in Spain, Portugal and northern Africa were made 100 times more likely by human-caused climate change and would have been almost impossible in the past.

The government has requested emergency funds from the European Union to support farmers and ranchers whose crops are being affected by the situation.