Rainfall in 2025

As we do every year, we have analysed the annual rainfall data for our area and prepared this report to share the results with you. Although the data are highly localised (La Alberca de Záncara – Cuenca), we believe the precipitation pattern may be representative of central Spain, where rainfall is generally lower than in the northern and southern regions.

We considered 2024 an extraordinary year due to the amount of rainfall and the excellent harvest. We thought it would be hard to surpass… yet we only had to wait one year to see that 2025 was even better in every respect: both rainfall and crop yields.

With 619 litres per square metre, 2025 has broken all positive records in the 26 years for which we have data (with the exception of 2010, which reached 799 litres). We honestly cannot recall a year with such high cereal production as 2025.

For several years, we have been highlighting how drought has become increasingly noticeable. While total annual rainfall has remained relatively similar, we have observed that rainfall has become less effective — with more torrential events that are not fully absorbed or utilised by crops. In this sense, 2025 also broke the trend: rainfall was consistent and well distributed throughout the year, allowing crops to benefit fully.

In short, 2025 has been a historic year — one that we will remember for a long time.

As for 2026, it has started strongly, with around 260 litres recorded so far. We will see how spring unfolds and, ultimately, what autumn brings, with caution, but also with hope. If 2025 has taught us anything, it is that nature can always surprise us.

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Rainfall in 2024

As we do every year, we have analysed the annual rainfall data for our area and prepare this report to share the results with you. The data are highly localized(La Alberca de Záncara - Cuenca) but we believe the precipitation pattern could be representative to the central area of Spain, where rainfall is generally lower than in the northern and southern regions. 

The best word to describe 2024 might be "extraordinary". It was extraordinary because we had record harvests thanks to the 521 litres of rain . While this amount is close to the 24-year average, what truly stood out was the excellent distribution of rainfall throughout the year. Unlike in previous years, when we noted that it rained the same amount but at the wrong times. In 2024, the rain was well-timed and beneficial.

The first quarter was particularly rainy, ensuring a very good nascence. April and May were less rainy but the soil had reserves and the rains in June made for a record harvest. Our barley yield averaged 6,500 kg/ha, nearly double the usual 3,500 kg/ha.

Looking at the daily rainfall graph, we can see that it rained almost every 15 days, resembling an irrigated area. This pattern is also evident in the seasonal rainfall graph, where all seasons, including summer, were quite rainy.

In summary, 2024 will be remembered as a fantastic year for field crops (cereals, pulse vegetables, sunflowers, etc.), a stark contrast to previous years. However, it's worth noting that the year ended with very little rainfall, as November and December were particularly dry. Fortunately, January and February 2025 have been rainy so far, allowing crops to hold up well. We’ll see if this translates into another good harvest... stay tuned for next year’s report! 

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Rainfall in 2023

As usual, once a year, we analyse the annual rainfall data for our area and prepare this report to show the results to all of you. These data are very located (La Alberca de Záncara - Cuenca), but we think that the precipitation pattern could be applicable to the central area of Spain (the northern and southern zones have considerably more rainfall throughout the year).

Looking at the amount of rainfall throughout the year (495mm), who would thought it was a disastrous harvest year? This year has indeed been the worst we have experienced as farmers (we remember 1995 and 2005, when there was also a drought). Nonetheless, this year 2023 has been catastrophic for the countryside, especially in the central region of the peninsula. And it is true that the quantity is much higher than last year (a year when cereal and pulse crops were also poor)... and as we have been saying for some years now, rainfall patterns are worse and worse. This time, the rainfall couldn't have been worse, since the bulk of it occurred in the last days of May and June, when the harvest was already lost, and in September, when we hadn't even started with the 2023-2024 campaign.

The rains in June spoiled what little harvest there was, causing the few little grains to fall to the ground and weeds to sprout quickly (we had to till the harvested fields with the disc harrows because with the cultivator it was practically impossible). As for the intense rains in September, they couldn't have done more damage to the field due to the large torrential downpours they generated... water that, instead of benefiting, destroyed the soil, uprooted woody crops and was lost without proper use.

If we focus on rainfall by season, this time spring was the rainiest period (195 mm), and winter practically did not register any precipitation... this was one of the key factors for the almost total loss of the crop.

For some years now, the climate has been becoming a serious problem for extensive rainfed crops. It seems that the annual rainfall pattern (long periods of drought and torrential rains), fits better with woody crops, which are able to take store more water when it rains and withstand drought better.

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Rainfall in 2022

As usual, once a year, we analyse the annual rainfall data for our area and prepare this report to show the results to all of you. These data are very located (La Alberca de Záncara - Cuenca), but we think that the precipitation pattern could be applicable to the central area of Spain (the northern and southern zones have considerably more rainfall throughout the year).      

As a preview, the year 2022 could be considered a serious year in terms of precipitation. It is true that the total amount (400 mm) is quite good but below the average of the last 20 years (465 mm) so the worst thing is that we could say that it has rained a lot but it has rained poorly. Unsuitable rainfall because we had a very complicated nascence due to the very dry months of January and February and finally the month of May was very dry (only 9 mm) and also with high temperatures that generated a bad harvest of wheat, triticales and pulse vegetables (barley was more advanced and we did have a good harvest). Of the 400 mm of the year 2022, it should also be noted that most of it was in December (106 mm), so that the harvest of last year has not been able to take advantage of it. On the other hand, we have had a fairly good sowing and a good nascence that we will see how it is reflected in the harvest of 2023. 

If we focus on rainfall by season, we can see that on this occasion autumn has been the rainiest (186 mm) and spring has lost the first place it has held for years, however these rains are significant to have a good harvest. 

The year 2023 has started rather timidly in terms of rainfall (22 mm) but it has helped to have a good nascence. For now, the weather forecasts are not predicting any rain, so we will have to observe how our crops evolve... we will keep you posted.

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Rainfall in 2021

As usual, once a year, we show you annual rainfall data for our area. These data are very located (La Alberca de Záncara - Cuenca), but we think that the precipitation pattern could be applicable to the central area of Spain (the northern and southern zones have considerably more rainfall throughout the year).  

As a preview, the year 2021 can be considered an extraordinarily good year in terms of rainfall, as it rained a lot and very well... unfortunately, we suffered from the Filomena storm, which was lethal for the olive groves in our area. In terms of rainfall, it started raining in January and it didn't stop until the beginning of the summer and then it started raining again in September until the end of the year. With a total of 490 mm, it is above the average of the last 21 years (468 mm). October was the wettest month (74 mm) and we were able to sow in perfect weather. During the months of April and May a very good cereal harvest was generated, one of the best in living memory, with historic yields.

If we focus on rainfall by season, we see that spring is once again the rainiest time of the year and, as the saying goes, "April and May make the harvest", the harvest was really good for cereals and pulse vegetables.

The year 2022 has started rather timidly in terms of rainfall, with January and February being very dry. We have been fortunate that March has started with a lot of rain (43mm in March and 71mm in 2022) and so far the crops have remained spectacular...  it is still too early to talk because there are still many nights before the combine harvester starts working.

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Rainfall in 2020

As usual, we show you annual rainfall data for our area. These data are very located (La Alberca de Záncara - Cuenca), but we think that the precipitation pattern could be applicable to the central area of Spain (the northern and southern zones have considerably more rainfall throughout the year).   

As a preview, we can consider 2020 as a very good year in terms of rainfall. It started raining in March and practically did not stop until the end of the year. In total it was 602 mm (only the year 2010 exceeds it), as it can be seen in the history of the last 21 years. The average rainfall in recent years rises to 470 mm. November was a very rainy month (140 mm) and we were able to sow with perfect soil conditions. April and May produced a very good cereal crop, although in some cases rust damaged some fields due to the humidity caused by so much rain... the farmer has to be alert and if possible treat with fungicides.

If we focus on rainfall by season, we can see that on this occasion the rainiest season has been spring (normally it is usually autumn or winter). As we mentioned before, the spring was quite rainy and there was a very good harvest (plots of Planet barley up to 7,000 kg/ha... you can see it in this video).

The spring of 2021 is being also very rainy (67 mm only in April), so another good harvest is expected... it is still too early to talk because there are still many nights before the combine harvester starts working.

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Rainfall in 2019

In the post we published with the rainfall in 2018 we finished to ask how the year 2019 would end... so it finished well, as we will show you although at some moments we were almost at the edge of disaster.

As usual, we show you rainfall data from our area. These data are very localized (La Alberca de Záncara - Cuenca), but we think that the pattern of rainfall that could be applicable to the central zone of Spain (the northern and southern zones have considerably more rainfall throughout the year). This time we have stored data from the last 20 years, thanks to our great friend José María de la Fuente who has given up her data to us. Ever since I can remember, when we were children or almost since we started writing, we remember José María writing down the rains constantly, and some years have passed, so he has a great archive.

To sum up, we can consider 2019 as a typical year in terms of rainfall, although with some exceptions, one of the reasons is that the harvest was almost lost due to the scarce rainfall until March. In mid-March it rained about 15 mm (litres per square metre) which undoubtedly saved the cereal and legume harvest. Later, at Easter, it rained around 100 mm which certainly produced a good harvest that made the year quite acceptable. In total it was 421 mm which is close to the annual average in the last 20 years (461 mm).

If we look at the rainfall by season, we see that this time the rainiest has been autumn. Normally it is winter, but in 2019 the months of January and February were very dry. As we mentioned before, the spring was quite rainy and saved the harvest. To end the year, the months of November and December were very rainy... the elderly people of our village commented that these months have been months as it used to be, with rain almost every week. This is great; the sowing tasks were complicated even though we prefer to sow with mud instead of dust.

If we focus on the data provided by José María regarding rainfall since 2000, we see that the amount of rain has not decreased very considerably, since the averages remain between 2000's years and 2010's years. The truth is that looking at this data, we are struck that we have a thought: it rains less and less. Maybe the feeling we have is wrongly addressed and we could say, with these data, that the rain’s getting worse even though the amount is the same. There are less and less rainy days and these rains tend to be more torrential (Dana effect, for example) which before the rains were more constant with more rainy days and less amount of rain per day... what do you think about that?

Another indicator that we like to follow periodically is the graph of dammed water in Spain, which is also usually a good reflection of how the rainfall is going nationally. 

The year 2020 has begun with good expectations for rain... we leave the question with which we started the post to be answered next year about the rains of 2020.

We hope it will be a good year in terms of the harvest and especially in terms of health. From here we take this opportunity to send you a lot of encouragement and that together we overcome this serious situation that this harmful covid-19 virus is generating.

Versión en español.