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It was horrific. Winds of +200 km/h were recorded on the night of 28 January. Nine people have died so far, some falling from roofs while repairing them. The government estimates the damage at over €3 billion. After a week, 150,000 people are still without electricity because all the high-voltage cables were destroyed. Reconstruction will take years. Schools, sports and arts centres, municipal markets, roads and thousands of homes were destroyed or damaged.

The government's response was slow at first. After realising how things really are, they're taking action.

Last weekend, people and businesses came together to donate roof tiles, tarpaulins, plastic sheeting, food and clothing. ... There are people who have been left with nothing. There are currently 1,200 military troops on the ground because of the storms and floods.

It was a real disaster. The worst storm ever seen in this country.

Climate change?

Well, there are still someone in this world who shout ‘drill, drill, baby, drill’. You know who I'm talking about...

Climate change?
Well, there are still someone in this world who shout ‘drill, drill, baby, drill’. You know who I'm talking about... - @JohnnyPT

That's what you get when rich oil firms throw you free money, and renewables don't. These storms are increasing and its scary.

Austria’s glaciers are experiencing rapid, record-level melting due to climate change, with projections indicating they could largely disappear within the next 40 to 80 years. Almost all of Austria's ~900 glaciers are losing mass, with an average length reduction of 24 meters in recent years. Iconic glaciers like the Pasterze are receding by over 200 meters annually.

Since 1850, roughly two-thirds of the glaciers in the European Alps have melted.

I guess (!) nobody doubts that climate is changing and has always done so. This winter in Austria and Germany is a bit like a winter when I was young. The current rain in Portugal (not storm Kristin!) cannot be something special, because even in our district town I see high water marks on houses which are mind-blowing.

When looking at the electrical installations in Portugal then it is evident that a storm must cause major problems. However, I assume that there are good reasons why many Portuguese power cables are above ground and not below.

After a week, 150,000 people are still without electricity because all the high-voltage cables were destroyed.

I am surprised to not see more big generator in the area where the power supply is disrupted. How can one let so many people be without power (upon which often depends heat and communication and services) for such a long time.

There are many hundreds of generators, but they are not enough for more than 200,000 damaged homes (many isolated in small villages).

The UK is having more and more storms and unpredictable weather than normal. This winter, Austria has had some more snow than it has had in years, but it's still not lasting.

Climate change is a real thing.

Climate change is a real thing. - @SimCityAT

Absolutely. It has always been. I guess it is something we have to live with. If something hasn't happened for a long time, it doesn't mean it will not happen again.

@JohnnyPT

It is a main thing that businesses and factories which cannot work just because of "no electricity", are provided with power generation and fuel logistics. Otherwise these businesses will be dead for good. I cross fingers that the gensets you mentioned above were suitable and are already in action.

Sadly so, I guess many people will have to move into emergency housing for a long time. What a disaster.

The problem with the hundreds of companies affected is that they have been severely damaged, not just by the lack of electricity. Many of these repairs will take months to complete, such is the extent of the damage. If it were just the electricity... because of all this, the entire production chain in the country has been affected, with thousands of workers in lay off. A real disaster. And 85,000 people are still without electricity. To make things even worse, on top of the damage caused by Storm Kristin, many areas are now flooded by Storm Leonardo (and Storm Mary is due to arrive tomorrow)... and there are presidential elections on Sunday. Tragedy and populism go hand in hand... a calamity.