Storm Kristin: Five Fatalities as Severe Weather Ravages Portugal

Mon Feb 02 2026 15:59:24 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A powerful storm has caused significant destruction across central and northern Portugal, resulting in at least five deaths and major disruptions to infrastructure.

Storm Kristin has wreaked havoc in Portugal, leading to five deaths as it brought severe flooding and damaging winds. Authorities reported widespread infrastructural damage, including schools closing and disrupted travel across the region. The Prime Minister has expressed condolences and support for recovery efforts following this tragic weather event.

At least five people have died after Storm Kristin tore through central and northern Portugal, causing flooding, landslides and widespread damage.

The storm, which the government described as an extreme climatic event, left schools shuttered, buildings damaged and travel severely disrupted.

In the coastal city of Figueira da Foz, a Ferris wheel overturned and several vehicles were hit when part of a roof was torn from a building.

Portugal has been hit by a succession of storms in recent days, including one over the weekend in which a man died after his car was swept away in floods.

Heavy rain and wind gusts of up to 150km (95 miles) per hour caused more than 3,000 weather-related incidents across the country, civil protection authorities said. Several people were struck by falling trees or debris.

The strongest winds were recorded at the Monte Real air base in Leiria, where gusts of 178km were recorded before the monitoring equipment was destroyed. Officials said the location was likely the storm's entry point to mainland Portugal.

More than 850,000 people lost power on Wednesday, according to electricity distributor E-Redes.

The civil protection agency (ANEPC) reported that three fatalities had occurred in the central district of Leiria - one of the worst affected areas.

Transport across Portugal has been severely disrupted, with roads - including the main motorway connecting Lisbon to the north - and railways blocked by debris.

Ten coastal areas were placed under a red weather warning, with waves forecast to reach up to 14m (45ft). The PSP urged residents in Coimbra and Leira to stay inside, and authorities remain on maximum alert.

Prime Minister Luis Montenegro expressed condolences to the victims' families while assessments of the damage are ongoing. Leiria's mayor emphasized the necessity of declaring a state of emergency, noting the destruction's widespread scale.

Following its impact on Portugal, Storm Kristin moved eastward into Spain, bringing with it additional snow, rain, and strong winds. Spanish authorities reported numerous weather-related incidents as they prepared for the storm's consequences.