At the end of January, the water storage level was at 12,6%, when the standard average for the basin is 70.1%.

At the end of January, the Barlavento basin had the lowest amount of stored water, with just 12.6%. The worrying situation has been ongoing since at least October 2021.

According to data from the National Water Resources Information System (SNIRH), the standard average storage for January in the Barlavento basin is 70.1%.

Other basins suffering from low water availability at the end of January were the Mira (37%), Arade (41.8%) and Sado (55.3%) basins.

The Ave (91.6%), Tagus (91.3%), Guadiana (87.6%), Douro (86.7%), Lima (84.8%), Cávado (80.7%), Oeste (80%) and Mondego (74%) had the highest levels.

The SNIRH data revealed that 32 of the 60 monitored reservoirs had water availability greater than 80% of the total volume, while eight had values below 40%.

On the last day of January, and compared to the previous month, data showed an increase in the volume stored in 11 river basins and a decrease in only one.

January 2023 river basin storages are higher than average, except for the Sado, Mira, Ribeiras do Algarve and Arade basins, with some hydrographic basins corresponding to more than one reservoir.

According to IPMA’s (Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere) meteorological drought index (PDSI), the meteorological drought improved in mainland Portugal during December, ending in almost the entire territory.

IPMA data indicated that only a few places in the interior Southern region were still experiencing a slight drought (only 6% of the territory).