Last month, compared top the previous month, mainland Portugal recorded a decrease in the area of meteorological drought in Alto Alentejo, but recorded an increase in intensity in Baixo Alentejo and Algarve, with some locations now in the severe drought class.
According to the meteorological drought index (PDSI) available on the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA) website, at the end of October 2021, 40% of mainland Portugal was in the light rain category, 31.8% normal, 13.6 % in mild drought, 11. 6% in moderate drought and 3% in severe drought.
In September, 48.6% of mainland Portugal was in a normal situation, 37.8% in mild drought, 8.6% in light rain and 5% in moderate drought.
The IPMA classifies the meteorological drought index into nine classes, which varies between “extreme rain” and “extreme drought”.
According to IPMA, there are four types of drought: meteorological, agricultural, hydrological and socioeconomic.
Meteorological drought is directly linked to rainfall deficit, when less than the normal rainfall occurs.
In addition to the drought index, the IPMA Climatological Bulletin indicates that the month of October 2021, in mainland Portugal, was classified as very hot and dry in relation to air temperature and normal amounts of precipitation.
The average value of the average air temperature (17.73 degrees Celsius) was the 6th highest since 2000 (highest in 2017 at 19.57 degrees).
The lowest value of the minimum temperature was recorded on October 24th and 28th in Carrazeda de Ansiães, in the district of Bragança, (0.2 degrees) and the highest value in Mora (Évora) on October 7th with a temperature of 34.2 degrees.
