According to experts heard at the last meeting of the Permanent Commission for the Prevention, Monitoring and Follow-up of the Effects of Drought, the year 2022 is on track to be another dry year with "80 percent probability",

With the data for January already closed, it can be concluded that it was the sixth driest since 1931, with an average value of 13.9 mm of precipitation, equivalent to 12% of the normal value verified between the years 1971 to 2000.

"In about 75% of the territory, the values ​​of the amount of precipitation were less than 10 millimetres", estimates the IPMA, indicating that it only rained in Portuguese territory on the first 10 days of the month.

Since 2000, 11 years have recorded below-average rainfall, with emphasis on 2005, a year of historic drought, the worst since 1945, a conclusion reached in June, when 68% of the territory was in extreme and severe drought.

In 2005, the total annual precipitation reached only 503 millimetres, the lowest value of the long series that the IPMA makes available.

These conditions forced cuts and reductions in water supply and the sending of tanker trucks to supply various locations.

In December of that year, almost ten thousand people continued to use auto-tanks to fill reservoirs and more than 11 thousand were subject to periods of reduction or cuts, with water disappearing from boreholes in 16 municipalities.