Severe Storms Impacting Portugal

Over the past several weeks, Portugal has experienced a series of unusually strong winter storms driven by successive Atlantic weather systems. The country declared a national state of emergency at the beginning of February following back-to-back severe storms that brought heavy rainfall, flooding, and strong winds across multiple regions. While Pangea has thankfully avoided any direct storm damage, construction progress has slowed across parts of the site. 

The barn and initial habitat infrastructure was originally planned for completion in mid-February. With the extended period of wet weather, along with some supplier delivery delays, progress has moved at a slower pace than planned and is currently running just over one month behind schedule.  

Alentejo, the region in Portugal where Pangea is located, experienced winds up to 200 km/h during Storm Leonardo in the beginning of February. 

Habitat Fencing Installation

Access roads immediately surrounding the habitat areas have been heavily impacted with the ongoing rain. Areas that were previously compacted dirt roads have become soft and muddy, making it more difficult for heavy machinery to manoeuvre. Vehicles occasionally become stuck in the soft ground, requiring additional time and support equipment to free them up. 

The storms have also caused some shipping delays from external suppliers, which has slowed the delivery of materials needed to complete the final outdoor section of our first habitat. This is simply the reality of building a project of this scale in winter conditions. Maintaining construction quality and safety remains our top priority, and teams continue to move work forward whenever site conditions allow. 

Extreme rain has turned many of our access roads into swaths of deep mud, making it difficult for heavy machinery to move. 

Nature at Work

While the extreme rainfall has delayed construction, it has also done what winter rain in Alentejo is meant to do. Frustrating as it is, the dams are full, the ground is saturated, and the landscape is lush and green, preparing us for the dry summer months to come. 

The winter rains turn the countryside a verdant green and breathe new life back into the landscape.