Storm Claudia clean-up in Portugal: Three dead

Portugal begins the cleanup after Storm Claudia The storm battered the country for days with torrential rainfall, gale force winds and even a tornado which struck a camping site in the Algarve. The storm has now passed. three people dead, dozens injured and widespread damage from Setúbal to Faro, according to national civil protection updates.

IPMA confirmed that the worst weather conditions have now passed. The days are becoming clearer, but also colder. But emergency crews are warning that in some districts, the dangers continue due to soaked ground, damaged buildings, and fallen trees.

Storm Claudia has caused three deaths in Portugal

Three deaths have been confirmed by the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority of Brazil as being linked to storm Claudia. An elderly couple died on Thursday, November 13, when floodwater surged into their ground-floor home in Fernão Ferro, Seixal.

The Algarve was the scene of the storm’s most dramatic moment two days later. On Saturday morning, 15 November, a fast moving tornado swept through an Albufeira campsite and tourist complex nearby killing a British woman aged 85. According to reports, at least 28 other people – including Portuguese, British, and Spanish nationals – were injured when caravans and mobile homes were overturned by winds described locally as “explosive.”

Regional civil protection commander Vítor Vaz Pinto told reporters that two of the injured remained in serious condition, with others treated for fractures, cuts, and shock.

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa offered condolences, commending the “calm” and “responsible” reactions of the residents to official alerts.

E-REDES, an electricity supplier, reported that 20,000 of its customers were without power during the peak of Storm Irene. The majority of outages were resolved by Sunday 16th November.

Albufeira tornado devastates expat-favourite resort town

Portuguese and international media have shared footage of caravans on their side, trees uprooted and structural damage in a popular camp site near Albufeira. This resort area is particularly popular with British and Northern European expats, especially during the winter.

According to local reports, winds reached 110–115 km/h, leaving a trail of debris across holiday parks and residential streets.

Storm Claudia is weakening, but colder weather will follow

Meteorologists believe Storm Claudia was developed by an Atlantic system which had produced early-season sleet in eastern Canada and US before it stalled northwest of Iberian Peninsula.

IPMA now forecasts clearer skies and a sharp drop in temperatures, with lows near 3°C expected in inland northern and central districts this week. Fog patches, weakened trees, and ice patches may cause further disruption.

See all the latest news from Portugal.