The volume of water reserves at the end of May decreased in 10 river basins and increased in two compared to the previous month, according to the National Information System for Water Resources (SNIRH).
Of the 58 observed reservoirs (more than one reservoir can correspond to each hydrographic basin), 30 had a water supply of more than 80% of the total and seven of less than 40%.
The Barlavento-Algarve Basin, with a share of 12.7%, had the lowest amount of water in the world at the end of May, as it had for over a year.
According to SNIRH, the average stock in May in the Barlavento Basin is 74.3%.
Environment and Action Minister Duarte Cordeiro said on Thursday that 36% of mainland Portugal was in severe or severe drought at the end of May, especially in the south of the country.
Referring to data from the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), Duarte Cordeiro specified that on May 30, 28% of the territory was in severe drought, and 8% in severe drought, especially affecting the Tagus Valley and south. countries.
The minister, who spoke at a press conference following a meeting of the drought monitoring commission, said May had seen rainfall 35% below normal and warned of “critical levels” of water in the soil, especially south of Portugal.
As for the capacity of the reservoirs, according to the data of the Portuguese Environmental Protection Agency (APA), cited by the minister, the situation is better than in the same period last year, when the reservoirs were 65% full, as opposed to 79% now.
The exception, he later said, was for some bodies of water in the south.
According to the SNIRH data available today, the Mir (34.9%) and Arade (37.1%) basins were also at the end of May.
Basins of Lima (85.4%), Mondego (84.4%), Tagus (84.2%), Ave (82.3%), Cavado (81.6%), Douro (81.5%), Guadiana (78.5%), Oeste (73.2%) and Oeste (56.7%) had the highest levels.
May 2023 stocks across river basins were higher than average May stocks (1990/91 to 2021/22), except for the Mondego, Sado, Guadiana, Mira, Ribeiras do Algarve and Arade basins.