2017-04-19 (IPMA)
March in mainland Portugal was classified as normal regarding the amount of precipitation and hot regarding air temperature.
The mean value of maximum temperature, 17.89°C, was higher than normal value (+ 0.89°C) and the mean value of minimum air temperature, 6.83°C was the same as the normal value. The average value of average air temperature was 12.36°C, + 0.45°C above normal value.
The total rainfall in March, 80.9mm, corresponds to about 130% of normal value. Although the average value of March was close to normal, in Central and South regions the values were higher than normal and near or lower in the regions north of Mondego.
During March we can highlight the following events:
• 7th to 10th March: due to an east current, very high values of maximum air temperature were recorded, reaching values close to 30°C in the regions of Braga, Douro Valley, Beira Litoral, Vale do Tejo and Alto Alentejo (highest value in Mora, 30.9°C on 9th), on 9th and 10th the values of maximum temperature were equal or exceeded the previous highest values for the month;
• 23rd to 27th March: low values of the minimum air temperature (lowest value in Penhas Douradas, -4.9°C on 23rd); widespread precipitation and sometimes hailstorm and thunderstorms; Snowfall in the highlands, reaching low levels (400 to 500m altitude) in the North.
During this month there was a significant decrease in the area under drought conditions, ending in most of the Central and South regions, with only 20% of the territory in a weak drought situation.