The first 15 days of February have already made this month the rainiest in the last 47 years, IPMA, Portugal’s national meteorological institute (IPMA) has revealed – adding that the last four years have been ‘exceptionally rainy’.
In a statement today, the institute reports that the total accumulated rainfall for this month is 223.5 millimetres (304% of normal) – roughly three times higher than the average reference figure between 1991 and 2020.
“Much of the country is already recording figures between 300% and 400% (three to four times) of the normal figure for 1991-2020, and even exceeding 500% (i.e. five times) in the localities of Mora, Lavradio and Alvalade do Sado” in the south of the country”, says the statement.
IPMA also points out that mainland Portugal experienced “one of the rainiest periods in recent decades between November and February 15”..
Last year was the third wettest since 2000, “with an annual total of 1064.8 mm (130% of the normal figure for 1991-2020)” and the 5th warmest since records began – with six heatwaves, including one with exceptional characteristics.
The institute also notes that November was the third rainiest month since 2000 and December the 7th.
“Regionally, it rained 1.5 to 2.5 times the normal amount in several regions in the North and Centre in November and in the Centre and South in December,” says the statement, stressing that January was the second wettest month since 2000, marked by the passage of five depressions: Francis, Goreti, Ingrid, Joseph and then, catastrophically, Kristin.
“In most of the central and southern regions, monthly figures ranged between 250% and 350% of normal. The highest wind gust recorded at surface stations reached 177.8 km/h in Monte Real/Air Base.”
More than half of the country’s regions have already reached or exceeded the average annual rainfall.
In Faro, the accumulated total already exceeds the average for a full year.
With regard to the hydrological situation, the accumulated total from October 1 (the start of the hydrological year) to February 15 is 905.6 mm, “corresponding to 1.8 times the average figure and exceeding the hydrological year of 2000/01, which has been the benchmark for the last 25 years”.
IPMA also referred to the generalised situation of soil saturation, “with cases of oversaturation in the North and Centre, increasing the risk of flooding and instability of slopes” (leading to landslides).
Source: LUSA
