Images shared on social networks show large ice stones. Rain and thunderstorms should give respite this Wednesday.
The north of the country was hit, this dawn and last night, by a strong hailstorm. Videos and photographs shared on social networks show large ice stones that have fallen into various districts.
The phenomenon was caused by a depression originated in the Madeira region ”that as it approached mainland Portugal transported“ a hot and humid air mass ”, creating“ conditions of instability ”on June 10 and 11, the Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) points out.
Several districts of the country were on Tuesday under orange warning due to the forecast of thunderstorms, but the alert extends until the early morning of Wednesday in the regions of the coastal in northern Leiria and including the districts of Vila Real and Viseu, where there are favorable conditions for locally strong, sometimes hail and frequent thunderstorms.
From this Wednesday the rain begins to give respite. The sweeteners should decrease in intensity and frequency, especially in the Central and South regions, and may also be punctually accompanied by thunderstorm in the north. The temperature should go down, especially inside.
“The hail is formed when small ice particles form within the clouds, thus absorbing moisture. Moisture freezes and particles are carried up through the air chains, increasing by weight and size. This happens so many times until the particle turns hail and enough weight to fall towards the ground,” explains the IPMA.
