August was classified as extremely hot and dry, it said. “This was the hottest August since 2003. The average air temperature was 24.5ºC, which is 2.35ºC above normal”, the IPMA reported.
The average maximum temperature was 32.41ºC, which was the highest since 1931.
The hottest periods were between 1 and 6, 18 and 24, and 30 and 31 of the month.
IPMA noted that the days between 1 and 6 August were exceptionally hot, with air temperatures remaining above 30ºC on average and over 40ºC maximum.
4 August was the hottest day this century in mainland Portugal.