Portuguese Storms Disrupt Travel, Trigger Flood Alerts & Fast-Track Aid

The Portugal National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) has logged 256 fresh weather-related call-outs between midnight and 10:00 on 7 February, underscoring how a relentless chain of Atlantic storms continues to upend daily life, damage property and drain municipal budgets from Braga to Faro.

Why This Matters

• Calamity status extended: 68 municipalities remain under state of calamity until 15 February, unlocking emergency funds and temporary rule changes on public spending.

• Transport & tourism hit: Parts of the Norte, Douro, Oeste, Beira Baixa and Cascais rail corridors are still suspended; major Lisbon landmarks such as the MAAT and Castelo de S. Jorge closed doors for safety checks.

• Red flood alerts: The Tejo, Mondego, Sorraia and Sado river basins are on the highest flood watch, affecting insurance excesses and travel-to-work times for thousands.

• Up to €2.5 B in support: Homeowners and small businesses can already file fast-track claims for repairs through municipal help desks or the Finance Portal.

From One Storm to the Next: Overnight Snapshot

The latest incidents are blamed on Depressão Marta, the third low-pressure system in a week after Kristin and Leonardo. Marta drenched the country with persistent downpours, wind gusts close to 100 km/h and coastal waves topping 12 m. By 10:00 the tally stood at 256 events—mostly urban floods and fallen trees—but the cumulative picture since 28 January is starker: 20,946 occurrences, mobilising 72,147 responders and 27,678 ground assets.

Hotspots: Municipalities Under Strain

The brunt fell on Greater Lisbon, Setúbal Peninsula and the Oeste, where saturated slopes in Alenquer forced the relocation of 65 residents. Further north, Coimbra has processed 881 tree-fall cases in ten days, while the Leiria district struggled with power loss affecting over 100,000 customers. Along the Tejo valley, towns from Salvaterra de Magos to Vila Nova da Barquinha watched levees nervously as river discharge stayed high. In the North, Gondomar activated its municipal emergency plan after landslides cut secondary roads.

Infrastructure Under Pressure

Several stretches of the Linha do Norte and Linha do Douro remain impassable due to track washouts, hampering commuter flows into Porto and Lisbon. E-Redes field teams reported more than 124,000 households without electricity at the storm’s peak, while telecom operators raced to restore fibre links in rural Leiria and Castelo Branco. Tourism also took a hit: the Padrão dos Descobrimentos, a magnet for winter city-break visitors, shut for structural inspections, and the scenic Arrábida mountain road is closed until arborists remove hundreds of leaning pines.

The Meteorological Puzzle

According to the Portugal Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), Marta’s centre sat near 43° N, 16° W with pressure of 997 hPa, steering moist south-westerlies straight at the mainland. Ground already loosened by Kristin and Leonardo could no longer absorb water, multiplying landslide risk. IPMA maintains Aviso Laranja for nine mainland districts and Aviso Amarelo for another six, citing additional rain bands and gale-force gusts through the weekend.

What This Means for Residents

First, expect longer commutes: check CP’s live map before leaving home and plan for bus replacements where tracks are shut. Second, document damage: insurers require photo evidence within 72 hours; municipal teams can issue on-site reports if your area is still cordoned off. Third, households facing evacuation orders are eligible for temporary housing vouchers—apply through your parish council (junta de freguesia). Finally, energy customers can request a force-majeure bill adjustment if outages exceeded 12 hours; the claim form is on each provider’s website.

Looking Ahead: Forecast & Official Advice

A new atmospheric river is forecast to sweep in around 11 February, feeding on mild Atlantic air and capable of dropping another 80–120 mm of rain in the North and Centre. Authorities urge residents to clear gutters, anchor loose garden items and avoid riverbank leisure. The maritime police have already suspended recreational fishing along the west coast when wave height exceeds 7 m.

Resources & Emergency Contacts

For real-time alerts, subscribe to Proteção Civil’s SMS 112 service or download the ANEPC Prociv app. Emergency road updates are posted on Infraestruturas de Portugal’s Twitter feed, while flood-risk maps are available on the APA website. In life-threatening situations dial 112; for non-urgent municipal assistance call 808 24 24 24.