The rain in Spain fell mainly on the plain this week — but despite prolonged torrential downpours, the precipitation failed to slake Iberia’s thirst.

Meteorologists have declared 2005 to be Spain’s driest year since 1887, and the Spanish environment minister, Cristina Narbona, said that restrictions on water usage would be enforced this month.

As climatologists warn that more than 90% of the country’s Mediterranean coastline between Tarragona and Almeria is becoming desert, reservoirs across Iberia stand less than 40% full and farmers have advised that the failed olive crop will push oil prices up by as much as 50%.

In Portugal, the environment minister, Humberto Rosa, warned that the water shortage could extend beyond 2006 and declared the entire country to be in a state of severe or extreme drought; 72,000 people are drawing drinking water from trucks after wells and reservoirs ran dry.

In the Algarve, swimming pools have been emptied, as locals blame golf courses and illegal developments for exacerbating the crisis.

Meanwhile, southwestern France remained on high alert after violent thunderstorms disrupted road, rail and air transport this week, causing up to 3,500 to be evacuated from their homes, and 1,500 tourists to be moved from camp sites, as 325mm of rain fell in 24 hours.

In La Londe les Maures, in the Var region, the storms threw 30 boats from the harbour.