The long-awaited rain that will help combat the wildfires that have been raging in the North and Center of the country since the beginning of the week has arrived. People witnessing the first raindrops in the North of the country, in Vila Flor and Mirandela, in the district of Bragança, couldn’t resist filming the moment and sharing it on social media. It quickly went viral.
“What joy… The rain is early. Vila Flor” and “Breaking news. It’s already raining in Mirandela,” wrote Márcio Santos, identified on Twitter as a meteorology and environment specialist, in the post where he shared the two videos.
The happiness and relief are also reflected in the comments on the videos, with people describing the moment as “a blessing” and “wonderful news.”
For Thursday, a drop in temperature, decreased wind, and showers in some regions of the mainland are expected. According to the Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), the danger of rural fires will begin to decrease, with showers expected, more likely in the North and Center regions only on Friday.
Despite the change in weather conditions, several municipalities in the districts of Santarém, Coimbra, Leiria, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Portalegre, Guarda, Aveiro, Braga, Viana do Castelo, Porto, Vila Real, Viseu, Bragança, and Faro are at very high risk of fire on Thursday. The IPMA forecasts periods of heavy cloud cover on the mainland, with showers more likely in the interior and during the afternoon, which may be locally intense and accompanied by thunderstorms.
