The heatwave impacting Southern Europe has not gone unnoticed in Portugal, where temperatures this Saturday surpassed 40°C in some districts, with several regions set to experience a ‘red’ alert due to extreme heat over the next two days.
Beaches were crowded, and on the streets, people ‘complained’ about the heat: with fans, umbrellas, and thermometers registering the outdoor temperature, various images were captured.
Today began without ‘red’ alerts, but by late afternoon, the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere reassessed the situation, issuing ‘red’ alerts for several districts on Sunday and Monday, with seven on Sunday and five the day after.
The IPMA had already indicated a possible increase in alert levels, which materialized for Sunday and Monday. For now, seven districts are on ‘red’ alert on Sunday and five with the same level on Monday.
The National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection announced on Friday it would boost readiness levels for fighting rural fires this weekend due to predictions of extreme heat across mainland Portugal.
Meanwhile, the Directorate-General of Health warned of health risks associated with extreme heat, urging people to drink water, avoid alcohol, and stay in cool or air-conditioned environments.
In a set of recommendations posted online, the Directorate-General of Health reminds citizens of IPMA warnings about rising temperatures, with maximums potentially exceeding 40 degrees in some regions, advising caution.
Beyond discomfort, the heat poses danger as well. Consequently, the government has banned the use of fire and agricultural machinery due to the high risk of fires, especially in the interior North, Center, and Algarve regions.
What are the prohibitions?
- Conducting extensive burning of vegetation.
- Burning debris piles.
- Using fire for cooking in rural spaces, unless done outside critical zones and in authorized locations.
- Fumigating or disinfecting beehives.
- Launching wick-lit balloons and fireworks.
- Using brush cutters, mowers, and shredders, or any equipment without a spark-arresting device, such as chainsaws or grinders, or operating mechanical equipment that generates sparks or heat in contact with mineral or artificial elements.
How long will the heat last?
Midweek, conditions are expected to shift, albeit slightly. At that time, “winds are likely to turn westward, causing a general temperature drop, though minimal in interior regions.”
The “sky should remain mostly clear or only slightly cloudy until midweek, except for some morning clouds along the western coastal strip. As winds shift to a westerly direction, more clouds will appear, potentially leading to light rain on the Northern and Central coast by the weekend.”
The following weekend, July 5-6, “maximum temperatures nationwide should not exceed 37°C,” the institute noted on social media.
