Reconstruction and analysis of 1900−2017 snowfall events on the southeast coast of Spain

Abstract

In this paper, we have reconstructed and analysed snowfall events on the coast of the natural region of south-eastern Iberia (Spain) over the period 1900 to 2017. Due to the lack of con- tinuous reliable meteorological information, we supplemented our analysis of official sources by consulting the daily newspapers for the days when snow was most likely. We selected 3 cities which are spatially representative for the study area as a whole and for which there is press cov- erage throughout this period. In north-south order, these cities were Alicante, Cartagena and Almería. Our analysis of official meteorological information and of press reports enabled us to broaden and improve 3 series of snowfall events in the study area. We then used these series to characterize the temporal and spatial distribution of the snowfalls and the synoptic pattern asso- ciated with them.