With the return of intense heat, twelve districts on the Portuguese mainland will be under a yellow weather warning starting Friday, June 27, as announced by the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA).
From 9:00 AM on Friday until 6:00 PM on Saturday, the districts of Beja, Bragança, Castelo Branco, Évora, Faro, Guarda, Lisbon, Portalegre, Santarém, Setúbal, Vila Real, and Viseu will face this warning due to high temperatures expected to persist.
The yellow warning, the lowest severity on a three-tier scale, signals potential risk for certain activities reliant on weather conditions.
Warnings may be extended or escalated as the duration of this heat episode remains uncertain, according to the IPMA.
In a statement, the institute previously indicated that from Thursday, June 26, “an anticyclone in the Azores region, extending towards the Bay of Biscay, and a depression stretching from North Africa to the Iberian Peninsula will bring a hot, dry air mass from North Africa.”
Air temperatures, already “above the normal climatic values for June across much of the mainland territory,” are expected to “rise gradually, peaking from June 28.” Maximum temperatures “should range between 35°C and 40°C across most territories, except for some coastal Northern and Central areas, with values between 40°C and 44°C in the South, Tejo Valley, and Douro Valley.”
Minimum temperatures might reach “around 20°C across much of the territory, especially in the South, where some areas, notably in the Algarve coast and Portalegre region, may not drop below 25°C.”
Although the heat episode’s duration remains “still uncertain,” it is expected “to extend into early July, particularly in the South.”
The IPMA also forecasts “suspended dust from the afternoon of June 27 in the South, spreading to the rest of the territory in subsequent days.”
Hot weather will also affect the Madeira archipelago, with “more significant peaks in highland areas where temperatures are expected to reach between 26°C and 28°C on June 28 and 29.” In Funchal, “maximum temperatures should hover around 28°C throughout this hot period.”
Minimum temperatures on the southern coast and Porto Santo island “shouldn’t be lower than 20°C, termed as tropical nights.” On the northern coast and highlands, “minimum temperatures should vary between 14°C and 18°C.”
Suspended dust is also expected from the afternoon of June 28 on the eastern part of Madeira island and Porto Santo island.
Faced with high temperatures, the Directorate-General of Health (DGS) advises the public to maintain regular water intake, wear loose and cool clothing, and apply sunscreen every two hours.
Exposure to the sun between 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM is not recommended. Special care is advised for the elderly, children, and those with chronic illnesses, who are urged to stay in cooler and shaded environments, according to health authorities.
Suspended dust degrades air quality and poses health risks, impacting sensitive populations like children and the elderly, whose health care should be heightened, according to the DGS.
While this phenomenon persists, the DGS advises the public to avoid prolonged exertion, limit outdoor physical activities, and avoid exposure to risk factors such as tobacco smoke and contact with irritants.
Due to their increased vulnerability, children and the elderly, as well as individuals with chronic respiratory problems and cardiovascular issues, should, whenever possible, remain indoors with windows closed, in addition to following general guidelines.
