The Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera (IPMA) confirmed on Monday that the meteorological phenomenon affecting Albufeira in the Faro district last Saturday was identified as a “tornado” with wind gusts reaching 200 kilometers per hour. In Lagoa, within the same district, there was a “strong wind phenomenon.”
In a statement, IPMA noted that “the mainland territory and the Madeira archipelago have been under the influence of the Claúdia depression” since Wednesday, November 12, experiencing “adverse conditions,” which include “episodes of heavy and prolonged rainfall, hail, frequent and strong thunderstorms, and occurrences of strong wind episodes.”
“These recent occurrences, particularly observed in the southern region of the mainland and central interior, were notably significant on November 15 in the Algarve region,” the statement noted.
On Saturday, November 15, IPMA confirmed the occurrence of “two very strong wind phenomena”: one in Albufeira at 10:02 AM and another in Lagoa at 11:22 AM.
“Based on the available information and the nature of the damage, it was possible to classify the first of these phenomena as a tornado and the second as a strong wind phenomenon,” explained the IPMA.
The tornado affecting Albufeira is believed to have started near the coastal strip and maintained contact with the surface along a path around four kilometers, oriented southwest. “This tornado should be classified as IF2, with the estimated maximum instantaneous wind value around 60 m/s (220 km/h).”
Meanwhile, the strong wind phenomenon affecting the Lagoa area “began its propagation over land in the Ferragudo region, estimated to have maintained contact with the surface along a route of almost seven kilometers, also southwest-northeast oriented.”
In this case, the strong wind phenomenon is considered to have an IF1.5 classification, with the estimated maximum instantaneous wind around 50 m/s (180 km/h).
On Saturday, IPMA meteorologist Paula Leitão had already suggested that the phenomenon in Albufeira was “clearly a tornado,” explaining that “there was a vortex in the sky” and “clouds descended to the surface in a vortex, with numerous objects thrown around.”
“The way the objects were subsequently torn from the ground, and those in the air were flung against walls, some even embedded, are typical tornado scenarios,” she stated, according to SIC Notícias.
IPMA meteorologist Paula Leitão stated that the weather event over Albufeira Camping Park, resulting in a fatality on Saturday morning, “was clearly a tornado.”
Daniela Filipe | 15:11 – 15/11/2025
Depression Claúdia resulted in three fatalities and dozens injured in Portugal.
A British woman aged 85 died on Saturday due to the passing of depression Claúdia in Albufeira, Algarve. There are also reports of 28 injured, two of whom are in serious condition, with individuals of Portuguese, Spanish, French, and British nationalities.
According to the Civil Protection, due to “extreme strong wind phenomena,” “the roof collapse at the Edan Resort restaurant” caused two dozen injuries, with “two injuries and one fatality” recorded at Albufeira Camping Park.
On Thursday, an elderly couple over 80 died after their home was flooded due to heavy overnight rainfall in Pinhal de General, Fernão Ferro parish.
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