Storm Martinho swept across Portugal on March 19-20, 2025, unleashing destructive winds and torrential rain that have left a trail of damage across the nation. The powerful weather system, described by officials as one of the most severe to hit the country in recent years, paralyzed transportation networks, damaged infrastructure, and injured several people as it tore through mainland Portugal and the island of Madeira.
The Greater Lisbon region bore the brunt of the storm’s fury, with Mayor Carlos Moedas describing the situation as “very difficult and violent” for the city. Multiple injuries were reported as fierce winds hurled debris, branches, and roof tiles through the air. As emergency services worked to restore normalcy, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro assured citizens that “the situation is now stabilized,” though recovery efforts continue nationwide.
Storm Martinho by the Numbers
The scale of Martinho’s impact can be felt in the numbers:
- 8,000+ total incidents reported nationwide
- 2,800+ incidents in Greater Lisbon alone (35% of the national total)
- 800 serious incidents in Setúbal (10% of the national total)
- 300+ incidents each in Porto and Coimbra
- 159 km/h maximum wind speed recorded at Fóia in Monchique, Algarve
- 120 km/h wind gusts in Madeira’s highlands
- 50,000 residents left without power across Leiria, Coimbra, and Vila Real
- 13,000 emergency personnel deployed (firefighters, police, municipal workers)
- 22 roads closed in Lisbon
- 7 people injured nationwide, including 6 in Lisbon
- 6-meter waves in Madeira
- 200 students affected by roof damage at Bernardim Ribeiro Primary School
- 13 residents rehoused after roof collapse in Lourinhã
- 193 incidents recorded in the Algarve, including 143 fallen trees
In the Algarve, which experienced less severe impacts than anticipated, civil protection services mobilized 719 operatives and 235 vehicles to address incidents, primarily related to wind damage rather than flooding.
Continued Alert through the Weekend
The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) warns that adverse conditions will persist through Saturday, March 22, with yellow and orange alerts remaining in effect for several districts including Lisbon, Setúbal, and Leiria. Authorities forecast continued heavy rainfall, strong winds, and rough seas, presenting a high risk of flooding in vulnerable areas.
In the Algarve specifically, warnings are in place for rainfall that may include hail and thunderstorms, wind gusts up to 75 km/hour along the coast and in mountainous areas, and waves reaching four to five meters on the western and southern coasts.
Interior Minister Margarida Blasco has urged residents to heed safety instructions from the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC), encouraging people to remain at home when possible and avoid flood-prone areas as Martinho’s effects continue to threaten the region through the weekend.
