We’ve noticed on other walks that the river levels are much lower this year, but it wasn’t until we undertook the Almond Trail last week that we realised just how dry it is in the south. At the beginning of the walk last year, I had had to wade through the Beliche in bare feet, This year, almost a year to the day when we first did it, the river bed was dry.
The Walking Trail guide advises you to take a pause at both crossings of the Riberia do Beliche as it is an interesting watercourse. Well this year we did pause both times, but not to look at the water. There is no water.
Last month was the tenth consecutive month when rainfall has been below normal, with 95% of mainland Portugal currently experiencing moderate to severe drought conditions. Alentejo, is suffering as much as, if not more than, the Algarve, and it is estimated at least two months of rain is needed if water shortages are to be avoided. This isn’t though the first time the country has experienced severe droughts, there were also major droughts in 2011/12 and 2004/05.
Oh my. This looks like over here in the heat of the summer. Last summer there was such a drought that nothing grew, peach trees dried, sunflowers had a very short cycle, and one could clearly see what they mean by desertification. But now, in the winter, it’s been raining most of the time! I hope for rain for you as well.
Thanks
It must have a very negative effect on agriculture, very worrying.
Very……😕
I’ll send you some of ours, locally we’ve had very few dry days here since Christmas 🙁
Happy to accept 😊
Worrying juxtapositions!
Very worrying, just hope it’s a blip and not the new normal.
Drought seems to have become the norm in many places. Hopefully good soaking rain will fall there soon.
Hope so
Why didn’t you ask me sooner, I could have sent you plenty! Seriously though, it is a problem in many parts of continental Europe this year and I do hope the climate gets back on track soon.
Send it next week please 😊
We’ve got it all here!
Well stop hogging it!!!!
Hey, I am very happy to share 😀
😃
Here same too, this summer will be so difficult about water… Thank you dear, Have a nice weekend, Love, nia
Thinking maybe we should try a rain dance!
It was incredibly dry here too last year. I witnessed much of the same. A lot of the creeks and marshes dried up leaving nothing but mud beds. At least the shorebirds were happy.
Apparently it is affecting the fish here as less is coming in near shore because there are less nutrients being washed down from the rivers. So I wonder if it will affect the shore birds in time?
Crazy world as parts of Northern Europe are suffering floods this winter.
Nature will eventually compensate!
Hope so!