Sizzling Temperatures Hit Mainland Portugal Twice
Mainland Portugal experienced an unprecedented heatwave in June 2021, with the city of Mora reaching a national June temperature record of 46.6 degrees Celsius, according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA).
### Causes
The heatwave was primarily attributed to a heat dome phenomenon, trapping hotter air over the region and intensifying the heat. This event took place amid broader climate change influences, with scientists noting that human-driven climate change is making heatwaves like this more intense and frequent. The heatwave affected much of Southern Europe, including Spain, France, and Italy, creating sustained high pressure and elevated temperatures across the region.
### Extreme Conditions
The extreme heat prompted red alerts for extreme heat and wildfire risk across several regions in Portugal. The month was classified as very hot and very dry, with total precipitation in June being below normal, around 20% of the average value. Meteorological drought occurred in the northwest region of Portugal and in the Algarve leeward region during June.
### Health and Environmental Impacts
The extreme heat had significant health impacts, with authorities and experts warning about increased risks of heat exhaustion and heatstroke, especially among vulnerable groups such as the elderly, cancer patients, and the homeless. Hospitals reported increased cases of heat-related illnesses, and widespread advisories urged people to stay hydrated and avoid outdoor stress during peak heat hours.
The heatwave led to operational disruptions, including the temporary closure of tourist attractions and a heightened state of emergency readiness in many Southern European countries to manage heat-related health and fire emergencies. The heatwave was part of what became the hottest June on record in Portugal and Spain, with multiple temperature records broken in June 2021.
### Consequences
During the heat alert period, which began last Saturday, 69 excess deaths were recorded, mainly among people aged 85 or over, according to preliminary data from the State Health Department. The second heatwave was recorded from 27 June and lasted until the first days of July. On Sunday, Mora, Évora, reached a new absolute extreme for June in mainland Portugal with a temperature of 46.6 degrees Celsius.
June 2022 was the fourth driest June in the last 94 years, and June is the month in which heatwaves occur most frequently in mainland Portugal, according to the IPMA. The recent heatwave serves as a stark reminder of the impact of climate change on extreme weather events and the need for continued vigilance and adaptation strategies to protect public health and the environment.
[1] Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) [2] European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) [3] World Meteorological Organization (WMO) [4] United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) [5] European Commission (EC)
- The heatwave in June 2021, recorded as the hottest in Portugal and Spain by the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), was primarily due to a heat dome phenomenon, which intensified because of broader climate change influences, as noted by scientists.
- The heatwave affected several regions in Portugal, causing meteorological drought in the northwest region and in the Algarve leeward region, with total precipitation in June being below normal.
- The extreme heat had significant health impacts, with increased risks of heat exhaustion and heatstroke, especially among vulnerable groups, and hospitals reporting increased cases of heat-related illnesses.
- The recent heatwave serves as a stark reminder of the impact of climate change on extreme weather events, as demonstrated by the increased intensity and frequency of heatwaves, and the need for continued vigilance and adaptation strategies to protect public health and the environment.
