Record Agricultural Losses in Spain Amid Severe 2025 Weather; Arctic Air Mass to Bring Further Cold
Spain's agriculture suffers record losses from unprecedented 2025 storms, while an incoming Arctic air mass threatens further cold and snow.
- • Agroseguro reports over one million hectares affected by storm damage in 2025, a historic high.
- • Total indemnities from agricultural losses reached 446 million euros, the highest ever recorded.
- • Most affected crops include fruit trees, herbaceous crops, vineyards, vegetables, and citrus fruits.
- • An Arctic air mass will bring significant temperature drops and snowfall, especially in northern regions and the Pyrenees.
Key details
In 2025, Spain's agricultural sector has endured its most damaging year on record due to severe weather events, with over one million hectares declared as lost to storms, according to Agroseguro. This unprecedented figure surpasses the previous record of 857,949 hectares set in 2018. The total estimated indemnities from these losses reached 446 million euros, the highest ever recorded for a single year. The sectors most affected include fruit trees, extensive herbaceous crops, vineyards, vegetables, and citrus fruits, with indemnities amounting to 152 million euros, 106 million euros, 64 million euros, 49 million euros, and 37 million euros respectively. Regional damages were most severe in Castilla-La Mancha and Aragón, which saw indemnity figures of 78 million euros and 68 million euros. The rise in claims is attributed to increasingly frequent and intense weather phenomena throughout the year, particularly in May and June when 460,000 hectares were affected. By late October, the cumulative indemnities, including other risks covered by agricultural insurance, totaled 694 million euros. Handling the surge in claims required coordinated efforts from approximately 350 assessors.
Looking ahead, Spain faces a significant weather shift as a new Arctic air mass approaches, bringing a notable temperature drop and snowfall to various regions. Forecasts highlight precipitation primarily in the northwest and along the Cantabrian slope, with rainfall accumulating to over 60-70 liters per square meter and up to 100 liters in some areas. Snowfall levels are expected to drop to between 700 and 1000 meters, especially in the Pyrenees, where considerable snowpack will build. The interior of the peninsula will experience widespread frost, and temperatures may struggle to rise above 20 ºC in several cities. In contrast, the Canary Islands will face different conditions with easterly winds and Saharan dust following recent rains.
These developments underscore the increasing vulnerability of Spanish agriculture to extreme weather conditions and the ongoing challenges posed by climate variability. The record-setting indemnities and the upcoming cold front together signal a critical period for the farming communities across Spain.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
