October was the second hottest month on mainland Portugal in 93 years, with the drought situation “reduced significantly” due to rainfall in the second two weeks, IPMA said this Wednesday.
The climate bulletin of the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) classifies October 2023 as “extremely hot in terms of air temperature and very rainy in terms of precipitation.”
October was the second hottest month in 93 years, behind October 2017, according to IPMA.
The bulletin said the maximum temperature was the tenth highest since 1931 and the fourth highest since 2000, while the minimum temperature was the second highest in the last 92 years.
“There were two distinct periods during the month: the first half of the month was characterized by very high air temperatures, while in the second half of the month the temperature values were generally below the monthly average,” IPMA points out. He added that during the hot period, new extreme maximum temperatures were recorded at 26% of weather stations, and minimum temperatures at 18% of stations.
The document also says that last October there was a heat wave that covered almost the entire continent.
The bulletin also showed October was the fourth wettest since 1931, with a total of 219.3 liters per square metre, roughly double the average from 1981 to 2010.
According to the IPMA, rainfall occurred from 13 October to the end of the month due to the successive passage of several frontal waves causing heavy and persistent rain, with previous maximum daily rainfall values being exceeded at about 12% of stations and monthly totals recorded being among the highest of the year. October at several stations in the territory.
The Meteorological Institute notes “a significant increase in the percentage of soil water throughout the entire territory”, with the northern and central regions recording values above 80% in most places, and between 40% and 80% in the Tagus Valley and Alto Alentejo, while while in Baixo Alentejo and Algarve “there are still places with values below 20%.”
IPMA also indicates that late October saw a significant decrease in the extent and intensity of meteorological drought across the continent.
However, according to this organization, “some places in the Alentejo and Algarve are still experiencing meteorological drought.”
IPMA states that on October 31, 13% of mainland Portugal was experiencing moderate meteorological drought.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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