All monitored river basins fall in month where traditionally there is no rain
The amount of water stored in the so-called Barlavento basin (western Algarve) fell back below 20% at the end of July, while the Arade basin (central Algarve), also had less water.
In other words, all the ‘gains’ from an unusually wet winter are receding.
Data from the National Water Resources Information System (SNIRH) shows that the Barlavento basin was at 19% capacity on the last day of July (when it had stood at 20.8% in June) and the Arade basin at 37.8% (from June’s 40.8%).
But according to SNIRH, this is not quite as dismal as it sounds. “Despite the decrease in water in these basins in the western Algarve, July’s storage is higher than the July averages (reference period 1990/91 to 2022/23), except in the Lima, Mira, Ribeiras do Algarve and Arade basins”.
Data also shows however that at the end of July, compared to the previous month, there was a drop in volume in all monitored river basins.
While the Barlavento and Arade basins had the least water, the Mondego (with 85.5%), and Guadiana (83.35%) had the most.
IPMA, Portugal’s Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere last reported on the meteorological drought situation in June, saying it had generally decreased that month compared to the previous report – albeit there was a small area of severe drought in the eastern Algarve near the border with Spain. Now, that situation will have changed (for the worse), but IPMA is not due to publish a new bulletin before the end of September.
Source material: LUSA
