According to the latest climatological bulletin from Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera (IPMA), on June 30, 42.5% of the territory was in weak (22%), moderate (22.3%) and severe (0.2%) meteorological drought, according to the IPMA climatological bulletin.
In May, there was no area in severe drought and 48.2% of the territory was in weak or moderate drought.
At the end of June, the area in moderate drought increased from the previous month, from 11.9% to 20.3, and mild drought decreased from 36.3% to 22%.
The increase in the area in moderate meteorological drought, at the end of the month, occurred in the South region, affecting the districts of Faro, Beja, and part of the districts of Setúbal and Évora.
The institute classifies the meteorological drought index into nine classes, which vary between “extreme rain” and “extreme drought”.
According to IPMA, there are four types of drought: meteorological, agricultural, hydrological, and socioeconomic.
Data from the IPMA Climatological Bulletin also indicate that last month was classified as normal in terms of air temperature and very rainy in terms of precipitation.
During the month of June, there was a relatively long period (from 08 to 21) with air temperature values much lower than the monthly average value, and for two other periods (01 to 07 and 22 to 24) with the maximum much above the average value.
On June 24, 10% of meteorological stations recorded a maximum air temperature above 38 degrees Celsius.
According to IPMA, June was the 5th wettest month since 2000, characterized by unstable conditions with periods of rain or showers, sometimes heavy and hail accompanied by thunderstorms.