Storms near Portugal
The record holds 40 tropical cyclones whose tracks passed within 50 km of Portugal between 1856 and 2024. The busiest month is September, with 16 of them. The strongest, measured where each came closest to the place, reached category 2 strength. 8 of the storms have no wind speed in the record.
- 40storms within 50 km
- 0major (category 3 to 5) near here
- 9at category 1 strength or more
A storm counts once, however many times it came close. The category is the storm's strongest point within 50 km, which can be weaker than its peak elsewhere.
How strong were the storms near Portugal?
| Category near here | Storms | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical depression | 3 | 8% |
| Tropical storm | 20 | 50% |
| Category 1 | 7 | 18% |
| Category 2 | 2 | 5% |
| Category 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Category 4 | 0 | 0% |
| Category 5 | 0 | 0% |
| Unknown intensity | 8 | 20% |
The agency behind most of the intensity figures here is the NOAA National Hurricane Center (HURDAT2, Atlantic).
Portugal storms over time
The 2020s only run to 2024, so that bar is for a shorter period. This place's record starts in 1856, and records before the satellite era (about the 1960s) are far less complete.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1850s | 1 |
| 1860s | 1 |
| 1870s | 4 |
| 1880s | 2 |
| 1890s | 2 |
| 1900s | 1 |
| 1920s | 1 |
| 1940s | 1 |
| 1950s | 3 |
| 1960s | 1 |
| 1970s | 4 |
| 1980s | 2 |
| 1990s | 7 |
| 2000s | 4 |
| 2010s | 4 |
| 2020s | 2 |
Earlier decades hold fewer storms partly because they were harder to see. Before weather satellites (about the 1960s) many storms that stayed at sea went unrecorded, so compare decades with care.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| Jan | 1 |
| Feb | 0 |
| Mar | 0 |
| Apr | 0 |
| May | 0 |
| Jun | 0 |
| Jul | 0 |
| Aug | 4 |
| Sep | 16 |
| Oct | 12 |
| Nov | 5 |
| Dec | 2 |
Strongest storms near Portugal
- Unnamed storm of September 1926 (North Atlantic)21 September 1926 to 1 October 1926, peak Category 2 (90 kt)
- Unnamed storm of September 1940 (North Atlantic)22 September 1940 to 28 September 1940, peak Category 2 (85 kt), 984 hPa
- Unnamed storm of August 1893 (North Atlantic)20 August 1893 to 29 August 1893, Category 1 (75 kt) near here, peak Category 2 (85 kt)
- Carrie (1957)2 September 1957 to 25 September 1957, Category 1 (75 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (120 kt), 945 hPa
- Unnamed storm of October 1969 (North Atlantic)28 October 1969 to 9 November 1969, peak Category 1 (80 kt), 992 hPa
- Emmy (1976)20 August 1976 to 4 September 1976, Category 1 (70 kt) near here, peak Category 2 (90 kt), 974 hPa
Most recent storms near Portugal
- Patty (2024)31 October 2024 to 4 November 2024, peak Tropical storm (55 kt), 982 hPa
- Alpha (2020)14 September 2020 to 19 September 2020, peak Tropical storm (45 kt), 996 hPa
- Sebastien (2019)19 November 2019 to 27 November 2019, peak Tropical storm (60 kt), 991 hPa
- Gaston (2016)21 August 2016 to 3 September 2016, Tropical storm (60 kt) near here, peak Category 3 (105 kt), 955 hPa
- Alex (2016)7 January 2016 to 17 January 2016, Tropical storm (55 kt) near here, peak Category 1 (75 kt), 981 hPa
Many of these storms killed people and destroyed homes. The figures are the official record's, and this page says nothing about their human cost.
Notable storms near Portugal with their own pages
- Carrie (1957)2 September 1957 to 25 September 1957, peak Category 4 (120 kt), 945 hPa
- Gordon (2006)10 September 2006 to 24 September 2006, peak Category 3 (105 kt), 955 hPa
- Gaston (2016)21 August 2016 to 3 September 2016, peak Category 3 (105 kt), 955 hPa
- Erika (1997)3 September 1997 to 19 September 1997, peak Category 3 (110 kt), 946 hPa