LISBON — Storm Martinho, one of the most severe weather events to hit Portugal in recent years, swept through the country on March 19 and 20, 2025, leaving behind a wake of destruction, power outages, and disrupted lives. With winds gusting up to 120 kilometers per hour and torrential rain battering urban and coastal areas alike, the storm has triggered over 8,000 incidents nationwide, according to Portugal’s National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority.
The Greater Lisbon area, home to millions, bore the brunt of the chaos. More than 2,800 incidents—over a third of the national total—were reported here, with fallen trees, damaged roofs, and blocked roads paralyzing the capital region. Lisbon’s mayor, Carlos Moedas, described the situation as dire, noting injuries caused by debris like branches and roof tiles whipped through the air by ferocious winds.
Power outages darkened homes for roughly 50,000 people across districts including Leiria, Coimbra, and Vila Real, as reported by The Portugal News. Crews worked through the night to restore electricity, but the scale of the damage slowed progress.
Transportation ground to a halt in many areas. The iconic Ponte 25 de Abril bridge in Lisbon saw rail traffic suspended until 7:25 a.m. on March 20, while the Cascais train line remained closed all day Friday, stranding commuters and disrupting daily routines.
Beyond Lisbon, the storm’s reach extended to Portugal’s coastal and island regions. In Madeira, wind gusts hit 120 km/h in the highlands, and waves swelled to six meters, prompting flight diversions and maritime warnings from the Port Authority of Funchal. Two tourists were among the injured there, underscoring the storm’s indiscriminate impact.
The Algarve, typically a sunny respite, wasn’t spared either. Winds clocked at 159 km/h in Fóia, Monchique, felled trees and sparked minor flooding, though no major road closures were reported, according to local updates from Euro Weekly News.
Portugal’s civil protection forces sprang into action, deploying 13,000 personnel—firefighters, police, and municipal workers—to clear debris and assist residents. The effort was monumental, yet the sheer volume of incidents, described as “above average” by officials, stretched resources thin.
In Setúbal, south of Lisbon, 800 serious incidents were logged, making up 10 percent of the national tally. Porto and Coimbra each reported over 300 incidents, including a dramatic collapse of a football stand in Coimbra, a stark reminder of the storm’s power.
Schools felt the impact too. At Bernardim Ribeiro Primary School in Odivelas, near Lisbon, part of the roof was torn away, affecting 200 students. In Lourinhã, a roof collapse displaced 13 residents, who were quickly rehoused by local authorities.
Weather warnings, issued by the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere, remain in effect through March 22, with yellow and orange alerts signaling continued risks of heavy rain and strong winds across districts like Lisbon, Setúbal, and Leiria.
Madeira’s plight highlighted the storm’s broader scope. Alongside high winds and towering waves, the island saw its travel infrastructure buckle, with flights rerouted and ports issuing safety alerts. The situation mirrored chaos in Spain, where Travel And Tour World reported similar disruptions, including road closures and train delays in Andalucía.
The storm’s cultural toll emerged as well. In Sintra, a picturesque town near Lisbon, monuments like the Park and Palace of Monserrate closed due to damage, with some slated to reopen by March 22, though others face longer delays, per Euronews.
Authorities urged caution as the storm’s effects lingered. “Stay home, follow safety instructions, and avoid flood-prone areas,” ANEPC officials stressed in a public address, a plea echoed across radio and social media channels.
The numbers tell a grim story: 15 people displaced, thousands of homes damaged, and a transportation network in disarray. Yet, the human toll—while significant—avoided catastrophe, with no fatalities reported by late March 20.
Comparisons to past storms surfaced quickly. Storm Kirk, which struck in October 2024, caused 1,329 incidents—a fraction of Martinho’s total—highlighting the current event’s exceptional severity, as noted in historical data from civil protection records.
Cleanup efforts gained traction as winds eased slightly on March 20, but rain persisted, complicating recovery. Municipal teams prioritized clearing fallen trees and restoring power, though forecasts of continued bad weather tempered optimism.
Across the border, Spain grappled with its own fallout. Flight diversions and road closures compounded the regional disruption, a spillover effect from Martinho’s sprawling path, which followed closely on the heels of Storm Laurence’s destruction in Andalucía.
For Portugal, the storm’s legacy may lie in its lessons. With climate patterns shifting and extreme weather events growing more frequent, officials hinted at reviewing preparedness strategies, though no formal plans were announced as of March 20.
In Madeira, the focus remained on immediate safety. Yellow-level warnings persisted, with residents and tourists alike bracing for more wind and waves through the weekend.
Back in Lisbon, the hum of generators and the clatter of cleanup crews filled the air. The city, battered but resilient, began piecing itself back together, one cleared street at a time.
The storm’s economic impact loomed large, though early estimates were scarce. Power outages, transport delays, and property damage promised a costly recovery, particularly in urban hubs like Lisbon and rural stretches of the Algarve.
For now, Portugal holds its breath. With weather warnings active and Martinho’s effects still unfolding, the nation watches the skies, hoping for calm after the chaos of one of its worst storms in years.