The Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) today raised the warning issued for the Western group of the Azores to orange, due to the forecast, from the end of the day, of intensification of precipitation.
“The passage of a depression with an associated frontal system will cause a worsening of the weather, especially in the islands of the Western group”, says a statement from the IPMA delegation in the Azores, signed by meteorologist Carolina Medeiros.
According to IPMA, rain may be heavy on the islands of Flores and Corvo “from the end of today”, which raises the alert level in that group of the Azorean archipelago to orange.
The IPMA had issued a yellow warning for the islands of Flores and Corvo, which make up the Western group of the Azores, now raising it to orange, the second most serious on the scale, issued in “meteorological situation of moderate to high risk”.
Thus, the islands of Flores and Corvo will be under orange warning between 18:00 today and 00:00 Wednesday, a period in which precipitation, sometimes heavy, accompanied by thunderstorms may occur.
The IPMA also issued yellow warnings for the islands of the Central (Terceira, São Jorge, Pico, Graciosa and Faial) and Eastern (São Miguel and Santa Maria) groups because of precipitation at times heavy, and may be accompanied by thunderstorms.
For the Central group the yellow warning will be in force between 18:00 today and 12:00 on Wednesday.
In São Miguel and Santa Maria the yellow warning will be active between 18:00 today and 09:00 on Wednesday, adds the IPMA statement.
The yellow warning, the least serious on a scale of three, is issued by the IPMA whenever there is a risk situation for certain activities dependent on the weather situation.
In view of these forecasts, the Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service of the Azores recommends that self-protection measures be taken.
The Civil Protection of the Azores advises, among other measures, the consolidation of roofs, doors and windows, as well as the cleaning of drainage systems adjacent to homes.
Keeping loose objects out of the garden, closing doors, windows and shutters tightly, are other measures recommended by Civil Protection on its official website.
The Azorean Civil Protection also advises against unnecessary circulation, taking into account the possibility of water sheets forming.
