On Wednesday and Thursday of this week, some coastal areas of the Algarve were once again flooded by water during exceptionally high tides.
In the city of Lagos, the tide reached about 3.9 meters in height, causing water from the Bensafrim River to flood part of the Avenida dos Descobrimentos, even reaching residential and commercial areas. A petrol station, located at the city’s entrance, was completely surrounded by water.
The scene surprised some locals and tourists, who took the opportunity to capture the moment on their phones and post on social media. In some areas, the water even overflowed onto the sidewalks.
To prevent issues for motorists, the PSP (Public Security Police) closed traffic on the lowest part of Avenida dos Descobrimentos when the tide reached its peak height, around 4:00 pm, between the roundabout at the city entrance for those arriving from Portimão and the market area.
During that time, only buses and emergency vehicles passed through.
Some vehicle owners, noticing the flooding, promptly removed their cars from the area and no serious damage was reported.
The high tide gave Lagos an unusual appearance, with palm trees along Avenida dos Descobrimentos reflecting in the water covering the asphalt.
On Thursday, several other coastal towns in the Algarve, including the picturesque village of Ferragudo in the municipality of Lagoa, also experienced flooding.
Some sources speculate that this unusual occurrence is due to the so-called rapid tides (marés vivas), which, due to gravitational changes of the Moon, can cause an abnormal rise in the water level, flooding some streets in riverside areas.
The Weather and the Tides: More Flooding in Coastal Areas
This Friday, 20 September, high tide is set to flood the lower parts of coastal areas in various Algarve towns again. The Hydrographic Institute predicts that tides may rise to a maximum peak of 3.8 meters.
In Lagos today (20 September), high tide is expected at 4:24 a.m. and 4:43 p.m., and low tide is expected at 10:24 a.m. and 10:49 p.m.
