Portugal records unprecedented nine heatwaves in 2026

The Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera (IPMA) reports that mainland Portugal logged nine separate heatwaves during 2026, a new national record. From February through October, the country accumulated 98 days of heatwave conditions, overtaking the previous maximum of 97 days recorded in 2009 and the earlier high of 91 days in 2017. Each wave varied in length, intensity and geographic reach, with some covering as much as 72% of IPMA’s monitoring stations.

The longest periods stretched to 13 days in locations such as Bragança, Miranda do Douro and Mogadouro. The ninth wave emerged in October in the northeast region, continuing the trend of extreme temperatures outside the typical summer months. IPMA defines a heatwave as at least six consecutive days where daily maximum temperatures exceed the long-term average by more than 5 °C.