Preliminary Assessment of Storm Kristin Impacts
Original title: Avaliação preliminar do impacto da Depressão Kristin
App: Avaliação preliminar do impacto da Depressão Kristin
This Google Earth Engine app was created for a preliminary assessment of the spatial impacts associated with Storm Kristin in Portugal. In Portuguese meteorological usage, “depressão” refers to the low-pressure storm system; the English title used here is therefore Preliminary Assessment of Storm Kristin Impacts.
Storm Kristin was an extreme wind event that affected mainland Portugal in late January 2026. According to IPMA, the system underwent explosive cyclogenesis west of the Portuguese coast between 27 and 28 January 2026 and was named Storm Kristin by IPMA. The strongest impacts were associated with very intense wind, including a recovered IPMA observation of 156 km/h at Leiria aerodrome and a maximum instantaneous value of 175.9 km/h at the Monte Real air base.
The app provides a rapid Earth observation interface for exploring the geographic footprint of this event. It is intended as a first-look tool: users can inspect affected areas, compare spatial patterns, and support field or institutional assessments with satellite-based context.
Main functionality
- Provide a web map focused on the preliminary spatial assessment of Storm Kristin impacts.
- Support rapid visual inspection of areas affected by the event.
- Use Google Earth Engine as the processing and visualization environment.
- Make the analysis accessible through a public Earth Engine app URL.
- Complement official meteorological and civil protection information with spatial evidence from Earth observation data.
Context
Official Portuguese government communications described Storm Kristin as causing significant damage to several districts in central and western Portugal, leading to a disaster situation status and a coordinated national response. The Government also reported major disruption to electricity supply during the immediate aftermath, with around one million people initially without power before progressive restoration.
The app should be interpreted as a preliminary remote-sensing product rather than a final damage census. Its value is in quickly translating event-scale satellite information into an interactive interface that can help prioritize inspection, compare affected areas, and communicate the spatial dimension of the storm.