This past January was a real humdinger (as we used to say in the hills of Maryland), with only five days without rain as compared to an average of over 20 days without precipitation. Last January was quite pleasant, if I remember correctly. Another index I saw had only one day with no rain and all the rest with at least a trace of drizzle or fog.
Our total was 99mm as compared to an average of 45mm, which, according to my math, is more than double the usual. While “weather bombs” rambled through with charming names like Kristin then Leonardo, the Prime Minister Luís Montenegro was moved to declare a “situation of calamity” lasting into at least the first week of February and he wasn’t even taking into account the danger of Chega taking over the presidency. He was thinking of something rare – hail.
I don’t usually think that talking about the weather is that worthwhile, but it is one of the considerations that most expats took into account when they became residents. You know, the 300 days of sunshine on average per year. Now it looks like we might get the other 65 all at once, or worse. As you’ve probably noticed, if or when you attempted to go outside, February has been no better and, on average, is a rainier month.
In the past, the March average was about the same as January, but last year was the wettest March for decades with 229% more than usual. In fact, last Spring had the fifth highest rate of rain since 2000 with 156% increase. I hope this isn’t an example of “climate change” because that won’t be good news for “sunny” Portugal and for the even sunnier Algarve.
The Brits have made the southern coast of Portugal their number one vacation destination because they can count on it being hot and dry unlike their much more moist green homeland.
So far this year, our lifestyle is reminiscent of the lockdown during Covid, since we don’t go anywhere and are very reluctant to make plans. We did get a chance to meet with some new friends for the very tasty tastings brunch at Raízes Restaurant on a Sunday afternoon and felt very lucky to be able to sit outside with a view of the sea. It rained hard later that evening.
The other time we’ve been out was one evening when we dared to drive all the way to Tavira and had a delightful dinner with dear friends (she’s not well but sticking in there) at Artefact, a very creative tapas restaurant. It still wasn’t raining when we walked back to where we had parked and we felt lucky when I only had to drive through two rain fronts on the way home on a very dark A22. I remember when we didn’t need good karma to go out. Now, we meet the dog with a towel every time she comes in from taking a pee.
What increases the climate-change worry is that bad weather (much worse than usual) is hitting places other than simply the Iberian Peninsula. Great Britain and much of the rest of Europe had more than one storm they thought was worthy of being named. Extreme cold and blizzard conditions swept over much of North America, more than once. It was fun watching an NFL game on TV that showed the players darting between snowflakes, but I doubt it was that enjoyable for the fans in the stands dressed in parkas.
It got so cold in usually balmy Florida that iguanas began passing out and falling out of trees onto sidewalks and windshields because their body temperatures got too low.
It is still hot in Panama, where my regular reader might remember we retired first, but they’re having an unusually wet “dry season,” which only lasts four months at most. Next-door Costa Rica calls their rainy season their “green season,” which is more clever though that means there is at least a thunderstorm every afternoon with plenty of rainy spells.
Weather does affect our way of life. I haven’t sat out on my terrace and had a nice glass of white wine in over a month. Some of my buddies have mentioned that they’re beginning to forget how to play golf. My lovely wife and I have been able to even wear sunglasses a couple of times during our early walks with the pup, but many more mornings we’ve had to forego our daily constitutionals because it’s pounding down outside. We’re not depressed exactly. There’s nothing you can do about the weather and it’s nobody’s fault, though I do know people who suspect that God might be punishing us. I doubt it.
New Year’s Eve was a fairly pleasant day this past December 31 and we were lucky enough to attend a very nice afternoon party at the Cantina il Borgo in Albufeira where everybody wished each other a “Happy and Prosperous New Year!”
It was an optimistic feeling shared by most. Since then, not so much. The sun can be a symbol of hope and, without it, thoughts can turn dreary, and I have to admit that, so far, your old pal Pat is not optimistic.
