Portugal gained up to 40 tropical nights in 20 years

Portugal has experienced an average increase of 1.4 tropical nights per year over the last two decades, with significant regional variations. Areas near the Spanish border have seen increases of up to four additional nights annually. Tropical nights, defined as those with temperatures between 20°C and 24°C, are becoming more common, with some regions recording consecutive days of unusually high minimum temperatures. The highest recorded minimum temperature in Portugal was 32°C in Faro in 2004. Recent studies indicate that the trend of increasing tropical nights is linked to rising minimum temperatures rather than maximums. The IPMA reports show that the frequency of tropical nights varies significantly across different cities, with Faro and Funchal experiencing the most notable increases. Overall, the data highlights a concerning trend of persistent heat at night across the country.