A preliminary analysis by the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) indicated that the highest average and maximum temperature values since 1931 were recorded in a year described as “extremely hot and extremely dry”.
“It was the hottest summer since 1931, with an average air temperature of 23.51°C, which is 1.55°C above the normal value for 1991-2020,” stated the IPMA.
The average maximum air temperature was noted as 30.78°C, the highest in the last nine decades, “with an anomaly of 2.09ºC compared to the normal value”.
The average minimum air temperature was 16.25ºC, the fourth highest since 1931, being 1.02°C above normal. The highest was recorded in 1989 at 16.31°C.
Three heatwaves were recorded from June 15 to 20, June 26 to July 9, and July 29 to August 17, with the longest occurring in the northern and central interior regions.
Additionally, 33 new maximum air temperature extremes and 10 new minimum air temperature extremes were recorded.
The extreme value recorded in Mora (46.6ºC) on June 29 represents a new absolute maximum temperature record for that month in mainland Portugal.
This year’s summer was also the driest since 1931, with total precipitation of 10.9 mm, amounting to only 24% of the normal value for 1991-2020.
