The Madeira archipelago experienced severe weather impacts on Friday and Saturday due to depression Emília, which brought strong winds, snowfall, and heavy rain.
Over one hundred flights were canceled, affecting thousands of passengers, with planes starting to land on the island of Madeira from 2:54 AM today.
The Madeira Regional Civil Protection Service (SRPC) reported 325 incidents related to adverse weather conditions by 8:00 AM today.
“With the situation easing, a gradual restoration of preventive restrictions is expected throughout the day,” according to the SRPC.
In recent days, the service reported 194 fallen trees, 29 construction element collapses, 37 power grid failures, and nine landslides, among other incidents.
All municipalities in Madeira were affected by the severe weather, with Funchal requiring the most interventions at 110 incidents, followed by Santa Cruz (74), Machico (45), and Calheta (31).
A total of 712 operatives and 339 technical resources were involved in managing these incidents, the SRPC noted.
Meanwhile, the captaincy of the Port of Funchal extended warnings of strong maritime agitation and winds in the archipelago until 6:00 AM on Monday.
According to the Portuguese Institute for the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA), winds will range from “fresh to very fresh, occasionally strong (around 60 kilometers per hour) in the early morning, gradually decreasing to moderate to fresh from the afternoon, occasionally very fresh until early evening.”
On the north coast, waves are expected to reach up to five meters, “gradually reducing to 2 to 3 meters,” and up to 2.5 meters on the southern side.
The regional authority emphasizes the importance of preparation for sea outings, the need for enhanced vigilance of vessels, avoiding locations exposed to maritime agitation, and refraining from recreational fishing during these conditions.
