Since 08:00, no aircraft has been able to land on the island, with two flights being diverted, as per information available on the official ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal website.
By around 17:00, approximately thirty arrivals had been canceled.
Severe weather conditions, including strong winds and rain, with occasional hail, are also affecting flight departures. Only three planes departed at 04:17, 06:00, and 14:06 for Lisbon (TAP), Shannon (Ryanair), and Gran Canaria (Binter), respectively.
ANA had already informed passengers on its website about weather forecasts predicting “adverse conditions that may affect operations (departures and arrivals) from December 10 to 13”.
The Madeira archipelago is being impacted by the Emília depression, which brings strong winds, snowfall, and occasional heavy rain.
The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) has issued an orange warning (the second most severe) for the north coast of the island due to winds, with gusts expected up to 130 kilometers per hour.
This warning is in effect at least until 18:00, after which it will be downgraded to yellow.
For maritime agitation, the IPMA has given the highest warning (red) from 21:00 today until 18:00 on Saturday.
The Funchal City Council has also implemented preventive safety measures, closing access to the sea and the Ecological Park following IPMA’s meteorological warnings.
In coastal areas, access to the sea is blocked with physical barriers implemented by FrenteMar Funchal, the concessionaire of the municipality’s bathing areas.
Additionally, Funchal City Council declared that access to the Cais do Carvão is closed and will remain so until Monday (December 15).
In the highland areas of the municipality, the municipal road Chão da Lagoa in Funchal’s Ecological Park is also closed to traffic for safety reasons. It is expected to reopen on Sunday (December 14).
The municipality urges the public to “respect all prohibited and adequately marked areas, refrain from circulating in coastal areas exposed to danger, avoid participating in marine-related activities and coastal sports such as sport fishing and water sports, and adhere to recommendations issued by Civil Protection and Security Forces”.
