March rainfall close to average; “severe and extreme drought” continues in “much of the south”
Rainfall in March has been close to the average, but more than three-quarters of the country continues in severe and extreme drought, the national meteorological institute, IPMA said on Thursday.
By March 15, rainfall stood at 87% of the monthly normal between 1971 and 2000, but it was still the 10th driest March since 2000.
The rain that fell up to now contributed to a “relief in the intensity of the drought situation in the northern and central coastal region”, with soil water retention increasing.
Further inland, in Trás-os-Montes, Beira Alta and much of the south, a state of “severe and extreme drought” remains over 77% of the territory.
The period between October 2021 and last Tuesday was the driest since 1931, IPMA said.
The temperature in the first half of the month was 1.67 degrees below the 1971-2000 monthly average value.
Source: Lusa
