Lower Alentejo and Algarve still suffering
According to IPMA, the country’s institute of sea and atmosphere, Portugal’s meteorological drought ended at the end of October in inland regions of the north and centre, the Tejo Valley and Upper (Alto) Alentejo, albeit it continues in the Lower (Baixo) Alentejo and the Algarve, but with less intensity.
According to IPMA’s Climatological Bulletin, October saw a very significant decrease in Portugal’s area under meteorological drought – even the lower Alentejo and Algarve are now only considered to be in a state of weak drought.
At the end of October, 44.9% of the territory was in the so-called normal class, 28.5% in the weak rain class, 18.7% in weak drought, 6% in moderate rain and 1.9% in severe rain.
The institute categorises meteorological drought index into nine classes, ranging from extreme rain to extreme drought.
According to the IPMA, there are four types of drought: meteorological, agricultural, hydrological and socio-economic.
Data from IPMA’s Climatological Bulletin also indicates that last month was classified as warm in terms of air temperature and rainy in terms of precipitation.
During October, air temperature values were generally above the monthly average from the 1st to the 24th, with the 6th of October standing out with minimum air temperature values above 20º Celsius at 15% of the weather stations in IPMA’s network.
Maximum temperatures above 30º Celsius were also recorded.
The data in the bulletin also points to a cold spell at the end of October, with temperatures well below normal.
IPMA reports that 148.7 millimetres of rainfall were recorded, the 8th highest figure since 2000 (highest 2023: 219.3 millimetres).
The institute also reports a significant increase in the percentage of water in the soil throughout the territory, especially in northern and central coastal regions.
Source: LUSA
