The month of January was classified as hot, despite the occurrence of a cold wave between the 23rd and 29th, and the percentage of water in the soil decreased in a large part of the country, the IPMA said on Thursday.
In the weather bulletin for January, the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA) states that in the first month of the year there was some “variability in the air temperature values”, with “temperature values almost always above what normal” for this month and in the period from 7 to 17 and 20 and 21 there were “hot days and nights for the season”.
However, according to the IPMA, as of the 22nd there was a sharp drop in temperaturein particular the minimum ones, with the occurrence of cold nights, with the average value of the minimum temperature on days 26, 30 and 31 being below zero degrees Celsius (°C).
“In January, in mainland Portugal, the average air temperature was 9.14°C, with an anomaly of 0.33°C above the normal value. Average air temperature values higher than those of this month have occurred in 30% of the years since 1931″, underlines the document, which indicates that the occurrence of “hot days and nights”, between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. , especially in the Center and the southern regions, “only occur in 10% of cases.”
the IPMA highlights the occurrence of a cold wave in approximately 15% of weather stations and that included some locations in the Northeast region, the central coastal region and the south coast.
According to that institute, this wave was registered between January 23 and 29 and in some places it lasted until February.
The IPMA points out that “the occurrence of cold is a phenomenon that, although it can occur at any time of the year, is more noticeable and sometimes has adverse impacts, for example on health, in the winter months.”
The report also indicates that the month of January is characterized by being normal in terms of rainfall, with a total rainfall of 104.1 millimeters, which corresponds to 89% “of the normal value.” The IPMA highlights that, between 2017 and 2022, the monthly rainfall values in January were “always below the normal value”.
The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere points out that, during the month of January, on the 1st, 7th, 8th, 16th and 17th, there were “periods of rain or showers, sometimes strong, especially in the North and Center regions”.
Regarding the accumulated precipitation since October 1, 2022, the IPMA indicates that the values of this hydrological year are “above normal in the North and Central and Alto Alentejo regions, with emphasis on the north coast and the areas of altitude of the Center region”, while in the Baixo Alentejo and Algarve region, the water in the dams is “below average”.
The same document also highlights that, in January, there was a decrease in the percentage of water in the soil in a large part of the territory, but with “more expression” in the South region, where some places in Baixo Alentejo and the Algarve stand out. comes out with values below 40%.
The report also indicates that at the end of January there was a slight increase in the area in mild drought (the least severe drought class of the PDSI index) in the Baixo Alentejo and the Algarve, while the North, Center and Alto Alentejo regions remained unchanged. in the rainfall classes (weak, moderate, severe and extreme).
Source: Observadora
