Heavy overnight rain in the highlands pushed Madeira’s rainfall totals above the red warning threshold. However, Ricardo Tavares, Madeira’s delegate at the Portuguese Institute for Atmosphere and Sea (IPMA), said conditions had developed as forecast.
Data from IPMA’s weather station network show that Pico do Areeiro and Chão do Areeiro recorded 85.3 mm and 84.7 mm of rain respectively over six hours. Pico do Areeiro also recorded 32.3 mm in a single hour.
On the south coast, Prazeres recorded 27.1 mm in one hour and 38.2 mm over six hours. Quinta Grande recorded 18.3 mm and 28.9 mm over the same periods.
Ricardo Tavares explained that rainfall intensified around midnight, justifying the orange warning for both the highlands and parts of the south coast.
Rain was particularly persistent in the highlands. At Chão do Areeiro, more than 10 mm fell each hour between 23:00 yesterday and 06:00 today.
From early yesterday afternoon, accumulated rainfall reached 118 mm at Chão do Areeiro and 115 mm at Pico do Areeiro. More recent figures put the respective 24-hour totals at 120.1 mm and 118.9 mm.
Despite rainfall exceeding the red warning threshold, Ricardo Tavares said an upgrade was not justified. He explained that IPMA is reviewing the thresholds used for the highlands to assess whether they adequately reflect rainfall impacts.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
Views: 3
