Portuguese Environment Agency APA is warning of the risk of flooding this week, particularly in the region north of the Mondego River and in the Tejo river basin.
Today and Tuesday are the peak danger periods as the effects of ‘depression Joseph’ start to make themselves felt, particularly in the north.
Speaking to state news agency Lusa, APA boss José Pimenta Machado, said that the forecast for the next couple of days is for heavy rain, with significant peaks in precipitation.
“A lot of water, a lot of rain will fall on Monday and Tuesday – continuing into the following week. North of the river Mondego and the entire river Tejo basin are areas of concern. Peaks are expected at lunchtime. We are monitoring the situation and liaising with local and civil protection authorities,” he said.
Pimenta Machado specified some of the locations that are already receiving particular attention: Águeda (Aveiro region), Vila Verde and Esposende (Braga region), Monção (Viana do Castelo) and Coimbra.
“The front will enter from the Atlantic and will bring a lot of rain to both the Mondego and Vouga rivers. I am very concerned about Águeda, which suffers greatly from river flooding, but also about the Douro, the area around the mouth of the Douro, (Vila Nova de) Gaia, Porto, and also the Tâmega, and therefore Amarante and Chaves, not to mention Régua,” he said, adding that he has already been in telephone contact with all the relevant municipal leaders.
“A lot of rain is also forecast for the Lima and Minho river basins”, the APA president continued – but “fortunately, in the Lima Basin, the Alto Lindoso dam has about 15 metres of extra water capacity (nonetheless) there is a need to be alert in Arcos de Valdevez because of the Vez River, and for the whole of Minho.”
The environment agency is monitoring discharges at the Caniçada dam to lower the dam’s level and accommodate the floods, acknowledging that it may be necessary to talk to Spain, about joint measures that could be taken.
“The soil is already saturated and cannot absorb water”, Pimenta Machado pointed out. “The snow has fallen, the temperature is rising and the snow will turn into water. More water will reach our rivers and reservoirs. This is in addition to the heavy rain. We are very alert and the public should pay attention to Civil Protection warnings,” he added.
Source: Lusa
