Pleasant weather to be replaced by cold and rain
Portugal’s pleasant Summer of Saint Martin – a period of warm weather in November usually associated with the legend of Saint Martin – is going to make way for cold and rainy weather starting on Wednesday (IPMA).
This worsening weather is due to a phenomenon called “gota fria,” or “cold drop.”
The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) has issued a warning for possible thunderstorms and strong winds in high-altitude areas, with potential snowfall in the Serra da Estrela mountains.
IPMA meteorologist Pedro Sousa explained to TSF radio that the gota fria is a “common phenomenon” which occurs when a depression becomes isolated at higher altitudes, trapping a mass of cold air in the upper layers of the atmosphere, which then creates significant atmospheric instability.
Although related to the weather event that recently affected Spain, Sousa noted that Portugal is not expected to experience the same high levels of rainfall. He stressed that due to regional differences, particularly between Portugal and the Mediterranean climate of Spain, the levels of precipitation seen in Spain are “practically impossible or very unlikely” in Portugal.
In other words, clear blue skies are due to shift to cloudy on Wednesday with a possibility of rainfall in inland northern and central regions, which will extend to the rest of Portugal by Thursday.
Temperatures are also due to plummet several degrees, with maximums ranging between 16ºC and 21ºC on Thursday and minimums between 2ºC and 10ºC.
In other words, the Summer of Saint Martin which graced Portugal yet again is coming to an end. Legend has it that the phenomenon is linked to St Martin who is believed to have stopped during a storm to offer half of his cloak to a beggar during a rainstorm (similar tales from other parts of Europe refer to a snowstorm). After this, the rainstorm stopped and the sun started shining.
