Until March 15, 87 percent of the normal monthly amount of rain had been registered.

But the rain that fell contributed to an "alleviation of the intensity of the meteorological drought situation in the North and Central coastal region", where the water in the soil increased.

Further inland, in Trás-os-Montes, Beira Alta and much of the south, totalling 77% of the territory, "severe and extreme drought" remains.