The National Authority for Meteorology and Geophysics (IPMA) has issued fire risk alerts for several regions in Portugal. These include the municipalities of Belmonte and Penamacor in the Castelo Branco district, Sabugal in the Guarda district, as well as Tomar and Vila Nova da Barquinha in the Santarém district.
In the district of Portalegre, the municipalities of Castelo de Vide, Marvão, and Portalegre are under maximum fire risk alert.
In Faro district, six municipalities are affected: Monchique, Portimão, Silves, Tavira, Loulé, and São Brás de Alportel.
A very high fire risk has also been assigned to around 50 municipalities in the interior North and Center regions and the Algarve.
The fire risk levels, determined by the IPMA, range from reduced to maximum. The maximum risk is declared when extreme weather conditions, such as intense heat and low humidity, substantially increase the likelihood of fires starting and spreading.
Forecasts from the IPMA today indicate mostly clear or slightly cloudy skies, with morning cloudiness along the North and Center coastlines, and a rise in temperatures.
The winds are expected to be strong at times along the western coastal strip and in the highlands.
Maximum temperatures will vary between 22 degrees Celsius in Viana do Castelo and 35 degrees Celsius in Castelo Branco.
