December began on Monday with clear skies and cold weather, but forecasts suggest that in the coming days, umbrellas will be needed along with overcoats, gloves, and scarves, at least in some districts of mainland Portugal.
The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) reports that rain is expected between today and Friday across most of the mainland, with snow possible in some regions.
For today, Tuesday, December 2, IPMA predicts “showers,” with the possibility of “hail and thunderstorms on the North and Center coasts starting in the afternoon. Snow in the highlands of the North and Center. Strong winds on the coast and highlands” and “strong maritime agitation.”
For tomorrow, Wednesday, December 3, “light and infrequent showers, falling as snow in the highlands. Rain from late afternoon. Morning fog. Strong winds on the coast and highlands” and “strong maritime agitation” are expected.
On Thursday, December 4, the sky is expected to be “generally very cloudy,” with periods of rain “turning to showers, which will be infrequent south of the Montejunto-Estrela mountain range from afternoon.” Snow is forecast above 1400/1600 meters. Winds will be light to moderate (up to 30 km/h) from the west/southwest, shifting to west/northwest from morning, occasionally strong (up to 40 km/h) along the western coastal strip and highlands, with a rise in minimum temperatures.
For Friday, December 5, IPMA forecasts “generally very cloudy skies, decreasing cloudiness in Baixo Alentejo and Algarve from late afternoon,” showers in the North and Center regions, generally “light and infrequent, turning to periods of rain from afternoon,” “light to moderate winds (up to 30 km/h) from the west quadrant, occasionally strong (up to 40 km/h) in the highlands until early morning and from late afternoon,” as well as “the possibility of fog or mist forming in the North and Center regions.”
These forecasts are expected to remain similar at least until Saturday. On Sunday, the rain may give a respite.
Temperatures will vary little across mainland Portugal. Faro is expected to be the warmest district today, with a high of 18ºC, and Bragança the coolest, with a high of 7ºC and a low of 1ºC.
Tomorrow, the warmest district will be Setúbal, with a high of 18ºC, and the coolest, Guarda, with a high of 6ºC and a low of 0ºC. On Wednesday, temperatures will rise slightly. Faro and Setúbal will reach highs of 19ºC, and minimums are not expected to drop below 4ºC (Guarda).
In the Madeira archipelago, rain is expected today, with temperatures ranging between 21ºC and 16ºC, and in the Azores, partially cloudy skies are predicted across all nine islands, with temperatures varying between a high of 18ºC and a low of 12ºC.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, December 3, the rain will leave Madeira and move to the Western and Central Groups of the Azores. Temperatures will remain very similar to the previous day.
