The IPMA website reported at 1pm a total of 47,676 atmospheric electrical discharges (AEDs) recorded in the last 24 hours by its network of detectors in the continental territory and adjacent oceanic areas.

“It can be said that this is an event with a degree of exceptionality,” said Pedro Sousa, adding that it is “a value that is not very common” for the area.

“Certainly, it doesn't happen every year to have an event of this magnitude and frequency of electrical discharges,” he added.

The meteorologist indicated, however, that the number of lightning strikes counted also includes discharges that occurred in Spain.

This is associated with the approach and passage of a frontal system, which, he said, is "relatively typical for this time of year."

But "this front has some characteristics in terms of indicators and instability indices that are somewhat more pronounced than most fronts that cross us (...) and, therefore, the potential to generate more thunderstorms than is common," he added.

Mainland Portugal is being affected by a cold front of moderate to strong activity, causing rain, thunderstorms and wind, according to IPMA, which issued yellow warnings for thunderstorms today for all districts of mainland Portugal, except Bragança.

The National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) recorded 784 incidents between midnight and noon today related to heavy rain and wind, operations officer José Costa told Lusa news agency.

“There were 435 floods, 163 fallen trees, 77 road clearings, 76 collapsed structures, and 31 mass movements, that is, falling rocks and earth, and also one water rescue,” he specified, adding that the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region was the most affected, with 409 occurrences, followed by the central region (191), the north (132), and Alentejo (52).