According to the document released This Tuesday, only the year 2022 was hotter than 2023, with last year the average annual air temperature reaching 16.59 °C (degrees Celsius), 1.04 °C higher than the normal value in 1981- 2010.
The average maximum air temperature was the second highest since 1931 and the minimum temperature was the ninth highest.
The heat waves – seven in total – occurred in spring (three), summer (also three) and autumn (one).
As for precipitation the year 2023 had the ninth lowest value since 2000. The total annual precipitation, 735.8 millimeters, was lower than the normal value (1981-2010) with an anomaly of minus 105.7 millimeters.
In 2023, 30 new precipitation extremes were recorded, 13 monthly extremes in October and 17 daily extremes (January and October).
The year was also one of extremes in terms of high temperatures, with nine absolute daily extremes in August of maximum temperature, but also in the same month of August an absolute extreme of minimum temperature.
2023, an “extremely hot” year
The year 2023 in mainland Portugal was classified, according to the IPMA document, as extremely hot in relation to air temperature and dry in relation to precipitation.
HeyWinter on the continent was very hot in relation to the air temperature and rainy in relation to precipitation. The spring was extremely hot and dry, being the second hottest spring since 1931 (only 1997 was hotter).
O Summer was very hot in terms of air temperature and normal in terms of precipitation. It was the sixth hottest summer in the last 93 years. And the autumn was very warm and rainy, being the fourth warmest in the last 93 years and the new wettest.
About drought, 30 to 40% of the territory was in severe and extreme drought between the months of April and August, covering the southern region.
