Last month was the second wettest January in Portugal since the year 2000, according to new data released by the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA).
In a summary of its January Climate Bulletin published this Wednesday, the institute said total rainfall reached 233.4mm – almost twice the monthly average of 105mm recorded between 1991 and 2020.
Every weather station analysed recorded above-average rainfall. In 78% of stations, precipitation was at least double the normal level, while in 40% it was between 2.5 and 3.5 times higher than the average for the month.
The ground is now heavily waterlogged across the country. “All municipalities are showing soil moisture levels above field capacity,” the IPMA said, warning that areas in the northern interior, the central region and the southern coast are “very close to total soil saturation”.
The extreme conditions were worsened by Storm Kristin, which battered mainland Portugal late last month. The storm produced wind speeds above 130km/h in the districts of Coimbra, Leiria and Castelo Branco.
According to IPMA data, the strongest gust reached 156km/h at 5.20am on January 28 at the Leiria weather station.
Despite the heavy rain and storms, temperatures were close to normal. The average air temperature in January was 9.19°C, slightly above the long-term average and the 12th highest recorded since 2000.
Maximum temperatures averaged 12.71°C, making it the sixth coldest January for daytime highs since 2000, while minimum temperatures averaged 5.66°C, the ninth highest overnight average over the same period.
