The storm Gabrielle arrived in mainland Portugal on Saturday, intensifying as weather warnings issued by the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere were escalated. The city of Porto was placed under a red alert on Sunday due to heavy rainfall.
Amid the severe weather, 129 incidents were recorded overnight between midnight and 7 a.m., with the majority, 95, occurring in the northern region of the country.
In the central region, 21 incidents were recorded, while 11 incidents were noted in Lisbon and the Tagus Valley.
According to the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC), no injuries were reported following the storm, mirroring the situation when Gabrielle passed through the Azores.
Which areas have been most affected?
The ANEPC reported that flooding accounted for the majority of incidents, with 59 cases, along with 43 cases of fallen trees and 23 cases of fallen structures.
According to Ângela Lourenço, a meteorologist at the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA), the phenomenon is expected “to enter Spain around lunchtime” through the regions of Castelo Branco and Portalegre.
“After entering Spain, the wind is expected to continue blowing intensely with gusts, especially along the coastal strip,” forecasted the expert.
Before reaching the mainland, the storm impacted the Azores archipelago, resulting in approximately 200 incidents and leaving 16 people homeless.
The storm, predicted to reach the Azores as a category 1 hurricane on a scale of 5, was downgraded to a post-tropical depression as it approached the islands during the week.
The individuals needing relocation came from the islands of Terceira, São Jorge, Pico, Faial, and Graciosa. Similar to the mainland, no injuries were reported.
The majority of incidents were related to fallen trees or structures. The islands in the Central (Pico, Faial, Graciosa, Terceira, and São Jorge) and Western (Flores and Corvo) groups were under a red alert (the most severe on a scale of three) due to rainfall, wind, and maritime agitation.
The situation also led to the cancellation of flights, particularly those from the United States. The regional government issued an order allowing the closure of all non-urgent or essential public services and agencies.
This Sunday, the archipelago experienced rainfall but no yellow or red alerts were in effect.
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