At the end of April, 39 percent of the territory was in the light rain class, 25.5 percent normal, 19.4 percent in light drought, 14.5 percent in moderate drought and 1.6 percent in moderate rain.
According to the drought meteorological index (PDSI) available on the IPMA website, at the end of April there was a decrease in the area and intensity of the meteorological drought in the central and southern regions, where there was no longer a severe drought class, while still maintaining a moderate drought in Baixo Alentejo and Algarve.
At the end of March, 16 percent of the territory was in severe drought and on 30 April this situation no longer existed.
According to the IPMA, at the end of April about a third of the territory was in a situation of meteorological drought (weak and moderate drought class).
The institute classifies the meteorological drought index into nine classes, which varies between “extreme rain” and “extreme drought”.
According to the IPMA, there are four types of drought: meteorological, agricultural, hydrological and socio-economic.
Meteorological drought is directly linked to the deficit of precipitation, when precipitation occurs below what is normal.
In addition to the drought index, the IPMA Climatological Bulletin also indicates that the month of April in mainland Portugal was hot and very rainy.
The average value of the maximum air temperature (18.56 degrees Celsius) was higher than normal, according to the IPMA.
Also, the average value of the minimum air temperature (9.26 degrees) was higher than normal, being the fifth highest value since 2000 (highest in 2011 with 11.12 degrees) and the 14th since 1931.
The lowest value of the minimum temperature in the continent was registered on 1 April in Penhas Douradas (-4.1 degrees) and the highest value in Alvega (26.7 degrees), in the district of Santarém, on 24 April.
With regard to precipitation, the IPMA said that the values were higher than normal throughout the territory and in particular in the regions of Centro and Alto Alentejo.
At the end of April, compared to the end of March, there was an increase in the percentage of water in the soil throughout the territory and in particular in the northern and central regions.
In some places in Baixo Alentejo and Algarve, values of less than 40 percent were still found.
The IPMA also said that a tornado was formed in the Loulé region (Nave Barão), in the district of Faro, on 15 April.