Almost the entire territory of continental Portugal was in severe drought at the end of May, the hottest and driest in the last 92 years, according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA).
The situation of meteorological drought worsens throughout the territory at the end of May with a very significant increase in the area in severe drought, now standing at 97%, compared to 4.3% in April, according to the meteorological drought index (PDSI).
The last day of May 97.1% were in severe drought1.5 in moderate drought and 1.4 in extreme drought.
At the end of April, 8.5% of mainland Portugal was in mild drought and 4.3% in severe drought. There was no extreme drought.
the institute classifies nine classes the meteorological drought index, which varies between “extreme rain” and “extreme drought”.
In addition to the drought index, the IPMA Climatological Bulletin indicates that the month of may was classified as extremely hot and very drybeing the warmest of the last 92 years.
The average value of the average temperature (19.19 degrees Celsius) it was much higher than normal in the reference period (1971-2000), an anomaly of +3.47 degrees.
The average value of the maximum air temperature (25.87 degrees)it was at the end of May the highest since 1931, with an anomaly of +4.91 degrees.
Also the average value of the minimum air temperature (12.52 degrees)it was much higher than normal, +2.02 degrees, being the third highest since 1931 (highest in 2011 and 2020).
The institute highlights that May 21 was characterized by very high air temperatures, with 20% of weather stations recording the maximum air temperature at night, between 00:00 and 08:00.
Regarding the amount of precipitation in May (8.9 millimeters), the IPMA states that it was much lower than the normal value for 1971-2000, corresponding to only 13%.
At the end of May, there was a significant decrease in the percentage of water in the soil throughout the territory, with emphasis on the North and Center, Vale do Tejo, Alentejo and Algarve, where the percentage values are below 20%.
Source: Observadora
