Weather Alert: Orange and Yellow Warnings Issued for Southern Portugal
The southernmost districts of mainland Portugal are currently under an orange warning, effective since dawn, due to forecasts of rain, with heavy showers expected, alongside thunderstorms and strong wind gusts, as reported by the Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA). The districts of Faro and Beja will remain under this warning until 3 PM, while Lisbon and Setúbal are under orange warning until 12 PM today.
Additionally, these four districts are also facing a yellow warning until 3 PM, triggered by frequent and scattered thunderstorms.
In response to the anticipated rainfall in the Algarve, the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) has cautioned residents about the likelihood of “strong and very frequent” winds and rain, advising that only essential travel be undertaken to mitigate potential flooding risks.
The IPMA has also issued yellow warnings for the districts of Bragança, Évora, Guarda, Santarém, Leiria, Castelo Branco, and Portalegre due to heavy rain and thunderstorms until 3 PM today. Similarly, the districts of Viseu, Porto, Vila Real, Viana do Castelo, Aveiro, Coimbra, and Braga are under yellow warning for rain until 9 PM.
Looking ahead to Saturday, Évora, Faro, Setúbal, Santarém, Lisbon, Leiria, Beja, Castelo Branco, and Portalegre will experience yellow warnings from 3 AM to 3 PM due to heavy rain and thunderstorms.
In Madeira, a yellow warning for rain is in effect for the north coast, south coast, and mountainous areas until 9 AM today. The north coast of the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo will also be under a yellow warning from 12 PM on Saturday until midnight Sunday due to anticipated sea unrest, with waves expected to reach heights of 4 to 4.5 meters.
The orange warning indicates a moderate to high meteorological risk, while the yellow warning signifies potential risks for certain activities depending on the weather conditions.
Today’s forecast for mainland Portugal includes generally very cloudy skies, heavy precipitation with thunderstorms, and strong winds in elevated areas, along with a slight rise in minimum temperatures. Minimum temperatures will range from 11°C in Guarda and Viseu to 18°C in Lisbon and Setúbal, while maximum temperatures will vary from 16°C in Guarda and Viseu to 24°C in Évora, Setúbal, and Santarém.
For the Madeira archipelago, the forecast predicts very cloudy skies, rain or showers, and conditions favorable for thunderstorms, particularly until late morning. Moderate to strong winds are expected, with gusts reaching up to 60 kilometers per hour in highland areas. Temperatures in Funchal will range from 22 to 27 degrees Celsius, and in Porto Santo, from 22 to 25 degrees Celsius.