According to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), the average air temperature stood at 9.5 °C last month, the fifth highest value since 2000.

The daily values ​​of maximum temperature were almost always higher than the average monthly value, with emphasis on the periods between the 1st to 3rd and 27th to 31st of January, in which deviations of more than 4 °C were recorded.

On the other hand, since 1931, there has not been a January with an average maximum temperature so high, as it reached 15.29 °C, 2.20 °C more than the normal value recorded in the period 1971-2000.

The average minimum air temperature was 4.02 °C, lower than normal (minus 0.52 °C) and, according to the IPMA, despite having started with values ​​above the average, it was almost always lower from the 13th, with emphasis on the period from January 17th to 26th.

As for precipitation, last month was the sixth driest in 90 years and the second worst since 2000, surpassed only by January 2005.

The IPMA report adds that the average amount of precipitation was much lower than normally recorded between 1971 and 2000, corresponding to only 12%.

“There was a very significant worsening of the meteorological drought situation, with an increase in area and intensity, with the entire territory in drought at the end of the month with 1% in mild drought, 54% in moderate drought, 34% in severe drought and 11% in extreme drought”, says the institute.

Regarding the percentage of water in the soil, there was a significant decrease compared to the end of December, and the IPMA highlights values ​​below 20% in the Northeast and South regions.