Figures released by the National Health Board (DGS) this week show that between 17 and 23 June this year, a total of 1,942 people died in Portugal, whereas in 2014 that figure was lower at 1,805.
Figures covering the past several days show that a subsequent surge in temperatures over last weekend caused another “small rise” to the country’s death toll, unofficially of around one hundred people.
These surges in mortality rates coincide with periods over which thermometers across the country comfortably exceeded seasonal averages.
Speaking to Radio Renascença Pedro Viterbo, head of the Portuguese Met Office’s (IPMA) Department for Meteorology and Geophysics, confirmed suspicions that June 2015 drew to a close with a heat wave.
“The temperatures we had in June were above normal. On Monday [29 June] we registered a heat wave. This June was [hotter than] the last six or seven Junes. We have not seen such a hot June since 2008.”
Nonetheless, the expert stressed, “If we look back to 1931, when records began, in a general context, this June was not exceptional.”
According to the IPMA a heat wave occurs when temperatures are higher by five degrees or more than seasonal averages for at least five consecutive days.
June 2015 was particularly hot given that of the first 25 days of last month, seven registered temperatures that were the highest since 2008, with some places in Portugal, such as the Algarve and lower Alentejo, experiencing unusually hot temperatures for the time of year and that easily breeched the 40 degrees Celsius threshold.
Meanwhile, in a press conference held at the end of last month, the head of the National Civil Protection Authority José Manuel Moura said that since mid-May the country’s firemen and women have fought the greatest number of blazes of the past dozen years.
During this year’s Phase Bravo – the name given to the second most critical period for forest fires in Portugal, which stretches from 15 May to 30 June – 3,355 fires were logged over the 47 days of that phase, equating to a daily average of 71 blazes, which Moura said is “frankly higher than the average of the past 12 years.”
José Manuel Moura added that the month of June was also “the most severe in terms of weather conditions” since 2003.
But, he elaborated, the response to the adverse conditions was “very positive”, with 6,583 fire-fighters and 1,541 vehicles being involved in tackling the outbreaks.
Portugal has now moved into Phase Charlie, the period of highest risk for forest fires, which commenced on Wednesday this week and extends until 30 September.
To respond to any blazes that may arise during this period some 2,234 teams made up of close to ten thousand firemen and women, 2,050 vehicles and between 45 and 49 aircraft are on standby.
Meanwhile, in related news, the Spanish Met Office AEMET has said a heat wave is expected to hit the Iberian Peninsula as of next Monday.
AEMET said the “next period of heat will be felt particularly from Sunday onwards and last for about a week. Temperatures are probably going to be over 40ºC”.
However, its Portuguese counterpart, the IPMA, is reluctant to talk of an impending “heat wave” despite a gradual rise in temperatures being forecast.
The Portuguese Met Office said it looks like Portugal will be narrowly spared by a mass of very hot air from North Africa that is set to make France and Spain swelter.
“From Sunday we may see temperatures reach between 37 and 39 degrees Celsius in the interior, especially in the Alentejo” an IPMA source told Lusa News Agency, stressing that for now, no exceptional kind of heat wave is forecast.
The IPMA also said that from next Thursday the mercury would likely drop again despite forecasts on its website at the time of going to press this week showing that some places in Portugal would register highs upwards of the 40 degree barrier towards the end of next week.
These included Lagoa, in the Algarve, which the IMPA’s forecast showed would experience highs of 42 degrees Celsius next Friday (10 July), while Beja would reach 43, and Évora 44.