The meteorologist from the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), Jorge Ponte, indicated that in the coming days, temperatures will drop along the coast, but the interior of the country will remain very hot with sometimes strong winds, especially in highland areas.
As an example, he mentioned the districts of Bragança and Vila Real, with temperatures around 39 degrees, and in the Douro Valley, where they may exceed 40 degrees.
According to the meteorologist, on Saturday and Sunday, a “relief in temperatures” is expected throughout much of the country, except in the Algarve where they will rise.
Forecasts indicate that only from Monday, the 18th, will the weather conditions become “less adverse”, with a decrease in maximum temperatures and an increase in humidity, a situation that will aid in combating the wildfires affecting the Central and Northern regions of the country.
The IPMA provided these insights to the Lusa agency regarding the fire risk after the President of the Republic, who is on vacation in the Algarve and met today with the Prime Minister in Faro, mentioned to journalists that Friday “will be the most complicated day” concerning fires.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa addressed journalists at Faro Town Hall, flanked by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, after their weekly meeting, which took place in the Algarve today instead of at the Belém Palace in Lisbon, as both are on vacation in the region.
The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, emphasized that Friday will be a “particularly worrying day,” considering the weather conditions that may favor the “persistence and worsening from a fire standpoint.” He also extended his gratitude to all the operatives fighting the fires on the ground.
Portugal is on alert due to the risk of rural fires since August 2, and this year 63,247 hectares of forest areas have already burned in Portugal, half of which in the last three weeks, with 5,963 fires igniting, mostly in the Northern and Central regions.
