Portugal has just lived through its hottest and driest summer in nearly a century, a season that shattered records and left the country battling extreme weather conditions, devastating wildfires, and severe environmental consequences.
This year’s summer temperatures averaged 1.5°C higher than the 1991–2020 norm, while rainfall plummeted to just a quarter of typical levels. According to national meteorological data, the average maximum temperature reached an unprecedented 30.78°C — the highest figure since systematic records began in 1931. These stark figures highlight a dangerous trend in the country’s climate, where rising heat and dwindling rainfall are increasingly defining the summer months.
Three intense heatwaves marked the season, placing immense pressure on communities, ecosystems, and emergency services. The longest of these heatwaves stretched from July 29 to August 17, lasting 16 consecutive days and pushing temperatures in many regions to alarming levels. In June alone, 33 areas recorded the highest maximum averages ever measured, signaling that the entire nation was under extraordinary strain.
Among the worst-hit locations was Mora, a municipality about 100 kilometers east of Lisbon, where thermometers soared to a blistering 46.6°C. Such extremes pushed public health to the brink, exacerbated drought conditions, and set the stage for catastrophic wildfires in the following months.
By August, parts of northern and central Portugal were engulfed in flames. The fires, fanned by dry winds and fueled by parched vegetation, became some of the most destructive in recent memory. Four lives were lost, dozens were injured, and the blazes devastated local communities. Beyond the human toll, the fires ravaged 254,000 hectares of land — nearly 1,000 square miles — leaving scars on the landscape that will take decades to recover. The scale of destruction made the fires the deadliest natural disaster Portugal has faced since the catastrophic floods of 2017, which claimed hundreds of lives.
The environmental consequences of such a summer are profound. Reduced rainfall has placed additional stress on water supplies, agriculture, and biodiversity. Farmers are grappling with dried-out soils, reduced crop yields, and the growing threat of desertification in some regions. River levels remain precariously low, impacting both irrigation and hydroelectric production. Forest ecosystems, already vulnerable, have been decimated by fire, while wildlife has been displaced or destroyed in the aftermath.
For many Portuguese citizens, this summer has underscored the urgency of adapting to a changing climate. Communities on the frontlines of drought and fire are calling for stronger infrastructure, more robust emergency response systems, and sustainable water management strategies. Authorities, meanwhile, face increasing pressure to strengthen forest management policies, improve land use planning, and accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources that can help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
While Portugal is no stranger to hot, dry summers, the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events are escalating. Climate scientists warn that unless global emissions are drastically reduced, Mediterranean countries like Portugal will face even harsher summers in the decades to come. The record-breaking heat and drought of 2025 stand as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of southern Europe to climate change — and the urgent need for collective action.
