August 22 and 23 were, respectively, the fifth and sixth hottest period in the last 15 years on the Portuguese mainland, with seven seasons exceeding all-time high temperatures, as announced this Thursday.
According to data published by the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA), 22 and 23 August were respectively the fifth and sixth hottest in the last 15 years on the Portuguese mainland with average mean temperatures. temperature 29.35°C and 28.76°C.
These two days are behind the four days from August 2 to 5, 2018, during which “weather conditions similar to the current but over a longer time frame were confirmed,” the IPMA statement said.
“August 22 and 23, 2023 also had the 5th and 10th highest average high temperature and the 8th and 11th highest average minimum temperature, respectively,” he explained.
On the 22nd, 20 stations surpassed the previous highest August maximum temperatures: Piñao (45.6°C), Tomar/Vale Donas (45.4°C), Lausanne (45.2°C), Mirandela (43.8°C) C). C), Cabeceiras de Basto (43.5°C), Ancien (43.4°C), Nelas (42.8°C), Moimenta da Beira (42.5°C), Chaves/Aerodromo (42.4°C), Macedo Cavaleiros (41.5°C) ), Viseu/Aerodrome (41.1°C), Vila Real/Aerodrome (40.8°C), Miranda do Douro (40 .8°C), Carraceda (40.7°C), Bragança (40.6°C), Trancoso/Bandarra (40.1°C), Mogadoro (40°C), Vinays (39.9°C ), Lusim (39.8°C) and Montalegre (37.5°C).
IPMA identified as the most representative values 37.5°C at Montalegre and 42.8°C at Nelas, stations with series of 82 and 62 years, respectively.
At seven of these stations – Tomar/Vale Donas, Cabeceiras de Basto, Nelas, Viseu/Aerodrome, Trancoso/Braganca, Luzim and Montalegre – “previous absolute extremes were exceeded”.
In Guarda on the 22nd, a minimum temperature of 25.9°C surpassed the previous August extreme.
On the 23rd, maximum August temperatures were exceeded at four stations: Viseu CC (26.9°C), Vila Real CC (25.6°C), Viñays (25.5°C) and Lamas de Mouro (19.7°C ). .
The extreme heat “is due to the influence of a mass of hot and dry air originating in North Africa and carried by the circulation resulting from an anticyclone located over the Bay of Biscay and a depression valley centered in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, which is strengthened by an anticyclonic ridge at a height over the Iberian Peninsula and the drought situation that the mainland is experiencing,” the same source said.
Alvega (Abrantes, Santarém) and Pinhao (Alijo, Vila Real) stood out among the highest maximum temperatures on August 22 with 45.6°C, while on August 23 Alvega reached 45.0°C and Pinhao 44.8°C. IN.
On the 22nd, 50% of the territory recorded maximum air temperatures equal to or exceeding 40°C, and 15% of the territory experienced temperatures above 42°C, IPMA specified.
Maximum air temperatures equal to or greater than 35°C were observed in about 80% of the territory, while temperatures equal to or greater than 30°C were observed “in almost the entire territory”, with the exception of Cabo Carvoeiro, J. Pedro Muel, Santa Cruz, Cabo da Roca and Cabo Raso.
The next day, 40% of the territory recorded maximum air temperatures equal to or exceeding 40°C, while temperatures above 42°C were recorded in 6% of the territory.