IPMA confirms meteorological phenomenon that “appears to have been a tornado” in the southern region of Lisbon

A meteorological phenomenon that could have been a tornado occurred today at around 2 pm in the southern region of Lisbon, a source from the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) confirmed to the Lusa agency.

“Around 2 pm, a convective cell that was part of the frontal system that crossed the Portuguese coast during the afternoon, showed quite vigorous activity and crossed the southern region of Lisbon,” meteorologist Alessandro Marraccini told Lusa, adding that IPMA immediately began receiving reports of the meteorological phenomenon.

“Shortly afterwards, testimonies of extreme phenomena of the event began to reach us, especially photographs, where there appeared to be a cloud, a funnel-shaped cloud, but which did not appear to reach the Tagus River”, explained the meteorologist.

Although he does not guarantee that it was actually a tornado, as the IPMA will still evaluate the phenomenon in the coming days, Alessandro Marraccini admitted that, based on the information available, the phenomenon witnessed “would indeed have been a tornado”.

“From the looks of it, it was a phenomenon very similar to a tornado. Most likely it will be a tornado. And I would say, with my opinion as a meteorologist who was on duty today, that it was a tornado”, said Alessandro Marraccini, noting that he still has no information about where the meteorological phenomenon dissipated.

The meteorologist reinforced, however, that this is just his opinion and that the “issue will be studied in great detail in the coming days by IPMA”.

“When there is an extreme event of this type, which also has relevant scientific interest, IPMA issues a statement summarizing what happened in detail,” he added.

Also according to Alessandro Marraccini, there are many variables in radar, satellite and even numerical models for evaluation, meaning that it takes a few days to evaluate the meteorological phenomenon in question.

Contacted by the Lusa agency at around 6pm, the Sub-regional Emergency and Civil Protection Command of the Setúbal Peninsula had not registered any request for help related to the meteorological phenomenon.

Lusa