The hydrographic network in Portugal has a north-south contrast, with rivers in the north having higher flows due to greater rainfall. Portuguese rivers generally flow from northeast to southwest towards the Atlantic. The rivers are characterized by irregular flows associated with an irregular climate, causing floods in winter when rainfall is heavy and drying in summer. Over 80% of mainland Portugal experienced severe drought in September 2017 according to the IPMA, with rainfall 70% below normal and temperatures far above average, resulting in high evapotranspiration and low soil moisture levels across much of the interior and south. The drought conditions led the government to provide exceptional support to farmers for water access.

2. The hydrographic network in
mainland Portugal presents a
north-south contrast. The following
characteristics are highlighted:
North of the Tagus, the courses are
more numerous, drip in deeper
valleys and generally have higher
flow, since there is a greater rainfall
in this region.

3. In general, Portuguese rivers
seep, depending on the slope of
the relief, that is, from northeast
to southwest towards the Atlantic.
Among those who have a
different sense of flow, are
highlighted the Guadiana- from
north to south and Sado- from
south to north.

4. The Portuguese rivers are also
characterized by the irregularity of the
flow, associated with the irregularity of
the climate. In autumn and winter, as
precipitation is more abundant, rivers
carry a greater amount of water and
can cause floods. In summer, some
water courses are drying up in the
south of the country.
This situation causes serious problems
for the populations, in the water supply,
for domestic consumption and
irrigation of crops.

5. In the autonomous
regions, the river
network is made up
of little water
courses, usually
designated
by Ribeiras.

6. Legend:
1- Minho;
2-Âncora and coastal streams;
3-Lima;
4-Neiva and coastal streams;
5- Cávado and coastal streams;
6-Ave;
7-Leça and coastal streams;
8-Douro;
9-Vouga and coastal streams;
10-Mondego;
11-Lis and coastal streams;
12-Ribeiras of the West;
13-Tejo;
14-Sado;
15-Ribeiras do Alentejo;
16-Guadiana;
17-Mira;
18-Arado;
19-Ribeiras of the Algarve.
1
2
7
12
13
11
10
15
14
3 5
8
9
4
16
18
6
17
19

7. More than 80% of mainland Portugal
was in September in severe drought,
according to the Climatological Bulletin
of the Portuguese Institute of the Sea
and the atmosphere (IPMA), which
characterized that month as "extremely
hot".
According to the bulletin, today
available on the website of IPMA on
the Internet, in September there was
an increase in the area in the situation
of severe drought and extreme

8. In the climatological Bulletin,
IPMA states that the "dry weather
Index to six months (April to
September), which reflects the
precipitation deficit at the level of
the meteorological and
agricultural drought, presented to
30 September a large part of the
territory's basins in the severe dry
class".

9. The IPMA justifies that the
"conjugation of precipitation
values much lower than normal
and temperature values far
above normal, in particular
the maximum, resulted in the
occurrence of high values of
evapotranspiration and
significant values of deficits of
soil humidity ".

10. In the document, the Office
stresses that on 30 September it
was found that in large parts of the
interior and south of mainland
Portugal the water values in the soil
were less than 20%.
The IPMA also reports that the 30th
of September corresponded to the
end of the hydrological year
2016/2017 (1 October 2016 to 30
September 2017).

11. "In this period, the total amount of
precipitation accumulated was
621.8 mm (70% of normal), the 9th
lowest value since 1931", is referred
to in the document.
The period from April to September,
according to the institute, was
extremely dry, with monthly values
of the amount of precipitation
always lower than the average
value, so it corresponds to the
second driest after 2005.

12. "To highlight that in this semester the
average value of the maximum
temperature was the highest since 1931
and the average value of the average
temperature the second highest (after
2005)", is referred to.
According to the latest data, the amount of
water stored in September has again
descended in all the watersheds of
continental Portugal monitored.

13. At the beginning of the week,
the Secretary of State for the
environment, Carlos Martins,
admitted at the end of the
meeting of the Management
committee of Albufeiras the
imminent risk of water
shortages in the municipalities
served by the dam
of FagildeIn the district of Viseu
if it continues not to rain

14. At the end of August, 58.9% of the territory was
in severe drought and 0.7% in extreme drought.
According to IPMA, on 30 September about 81%
of the territory was in severe drought, 7.4% in
extreme drought, 10.7% in moderate drought
and 0.8% in weak drought.
The IPMA ranks in nine classes the dry weather
index, which varies between "extreme rain" and
"extreme drought".
The drought has already led the government to
enact exceptional support to farmers for water
uptake, notably in the Alentejo districts of Évora,
Beja and Portalegre and in the municipalities of
Alcácer Sal, Grândola and Santiago do Cacém,
bathed by Sado.