According to a preliminary analysis by the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), the highest average and maximum temperatures were recorded since 1931, in a year that was "extremely hot and extremely dry."

"It was the hottest summer since 1931, with an average air temperature of 23.51°C, 1.55°C above the normal (1991-2020)," the IPMA stated.

An average maximum air temperature of 30.78°C was also recorded, the highest in the last nine decades, "with an anomaly of 2.09°C compared to the normal value."

The average minimum air temperature was 16.25°C – the fourth highest since 1931 – 1.02°C above normal. The highest was recorded in 1989 (16.31°C).

The three heat waves occurred between June 15th and 20th, June 26th and July 9th, and July 29th and August 17th, the longest lasting in the interior North and Central regions.

Thirty-three new maximum air temperature extremes and 10 new minimum air temperature extremes were also recorded.

The extreme value recorded in Mora (46.6°C) on June 29th represents the new absolute maximum temperature extreme for that month for mainland Portugal.

This year's summer was also the driest since 1931, with a total rainfall of 10.9 mm, corresponding to just 24% of the 1991-2020 normal.