The 2026 summer season included two major heatwaves, with the second one (June 29 to July 11) being the third longest nationwide since 1931. The latest IPMA bulletin also notes that rainfall in late August eased the meteorological drought that affected June and July.
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Portugal's public debt decreased to 88.4% of GDP in the third quarter of 2026, totaling 284.88 billion euros. This is the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio recorded since the end of 2009, representing a decline of 4.2 percentage points from the previous quarter.
The Portuguese Sea and Atmosphere Institute (IPMA) reported that September 2026 was the hottest September in mainland Portugal since 1931, with average temperatures 2.91°C above the 1991-2020 reference period. The month was marked by two heatwaves—one affecting the interior North from September 2nd to 7th, and a widespread second wave from September 18th to 27th—and was the fifth driest September since 2000, with rainfall reaching only 30% of normal levels.
Western Europe recorded its hottest summer on record, averaging 21.7°C, which is 2.5°C above the 1991-2020 average. In Portugal, the current wildfire season saw nearly 8,000 fires and 74,267 hectares burned, which represents a 72% decrease in burned area compared to the same period in 2025.