cytuje o tegorcznych anomaliach w lutym
MADEIRA
It rained seven times more than normal. In February, there were
458.7 millimetres of precipitation in Funchal, which is almost seven
times the average for this month. This corresponds to the highest
figure in February since records began in 1865. The amount of rain
that fell on February 20th, 144.3 mm, is the highest since 1920. In
one hour, more than 50 mm fell. 2nd February was the second wettest
day this February, with a recorded 129 mm. On the Continent,
February was the wettest for 24 years and there was above average
rainfall in the Azores. Wind speed registered gusts of 57 km/h on
the 4th February in Funchal and 108 km/h at the weather station at
Areeiro. Alberto Jardim calls for an end to alarmist news about bad
weather. "The worst thing that can happen to society is living under
alarmism. We need serenity, very calm and gradually diminish the
psychological effects that the tragedy has caused."
Progress after the storm. In the county of Ribeira Brava, there are
two people still missing and 211 people remain homeless. 90% of the
roads are cleared of debris and the demolition of the century-old
bridge has begun. The bridge was partially damaged by the flood and
it will be replaced by a suspension bridge which, unlike the old
one, does not depend on two supports in the stream. There are no
more isolated areas in the county now the new military bridge
connects FajĂŁ da Ribeira to the rest of the island. The population
in Curral das Freiras are returning to normal life but still become
alarmed at the instability of some slopes with landslides occurring.
They feel trapped in the isolated area and one person is still
missing. There are 34 families homeless in Câmara de Lobos
municipality. Roads in Jardim de Serra have all been cleaned and
repaired. Santa Cruz Council rehoused only 6 of 83 families last
week. They do not know when the remaining 77 families will be
permanently settled as they want to return to the areas they used to
live in. 48 homes suffered significant damage and repair work should
begin next week on some of them, but another 19 homes cannot be
recovered (one shown in photo). There are a total of 237 homeless in
the county and 184 of these are staying with relatives or
neighbours. The machines are still slowly working along the ribeira
da Luso-Brasileira, next to the Estrada do Livramento, to remove the
large amounts of sludge and debris. They have to work slowly as
there are still people missing in the area
By the end of the century, it is predicted that the archipelago will
have an average temperature increase of 2 â?? 3 degrees with a 35%
reduction in current rainfall. Water availability will decrease by
40 â?? 50%, (Filipe Duarte Santos, September 2006). Madeira has a
population density (310 inhabitants / square km) higher than the EU
and national average. 75% occupy only 35% of the territory, mainly
on the south coast. 45% of the population (130,000) reside in
Funchal, (1,500 inhabitants/ square km).
