IPMA classifies February as “extremely dry”.

The month of February was “extremely dry” and a “significant decrease” in the percentage of water in the soil was recorded, especially on the central coastline and the coast of Baixo Alentejo, the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) said this Wednesday. ).

“February 2023 on the Portuguese mainland was classified as normal in terms of air temperature and extremely dry in terms of precipitation,” the IPMA climate bulletin says.

The bulletin for February highlights that last month’s total monthly rainfall of 10.7 liters per square meter “was well below average,” representing only 11% of the normal value recorded between 1971 and year 2000.

IPMA states that, taking into account the last 35 years, only nine years have seen monthly precipitation in February above the average.

The same document also adds that in February there was a significant decrease in the percentage of water in the soil, with values ​​below 60% in almost the entire territory, and in some places on the central coast and in Baixo Alentejo percentage values. less than 20% water in the soil.

At the end of February, IPMA also shows that areas with mild to moderate drought have increased in the southern region, with a focus on the areas of Setúbal and Beja, where there are many places with moderate drought, while in the north and center there has been a decrease in areas by rainfall class.

“On February 28, 15% of the territory was in a mild drought and 13% in a moderate drought,” the bulletin says, which provides data on an average air temperature of 9.94 degrees Celsius, very close to the recorded norm. between 1971 and 2000.

According to the IPMA, the maximum air temperature has been above normal, ranking twelfth since 1931, and the minimum air temperature has been below normal, ranking sixth since 2000.

“During February, the maximum air temperatures were almost always above the monthly average, and the minimum air temperatures were almost always below the norm, with an emphasis on periods from 2 to 7 and from 23 to 28 with values ​​well below the monthly average,” — indicated in the same document.

While February is considered normal in terms of temperature, IPMA points out that the Portuguese mainland was “frequently influenced by polar air masses” last month, in addition to being also affected by depressions and the passage of cold frontal surfaces. on which precipitation in the form of hail was formed locally and occasionally in the form of snow at altitudes of more than 400 m in the Northern region and 600 m in the Central region.