Temperatures began to drop on Tuesday, August 19, in several regions of the country, particularly in Alentejo and Algarve, staying below 30 degrees in many districts at least until Thursday, August 21.
According to the Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera (IPMA), as of today, and continuing into tomorrow, Wednesday, August 20, the sky will be “slightly cloudy” throughout the country, except in Castelo Branco and Portalegre, where the sun is expected to shine intensely. Temperatures will exceed 30°C only in Castelo Branco, Portalegre, Évora, Beja, and Faro.
A similar scenario is anticipated for Thursday, although more districts are likely to reach 30°C. These include Bragança, Vila Real, Santarém, and Setúbal (30°C), Portalegre and Faro (31°C), Castelo Branco and Beja (32°C), Braga (33°C), and Évora (34°C).
It is noteworthy that one of the main challenges in combating wildfires has been the weather. The heat experienced in recent weeks exacerbated the already complicated situation due to various factors.
This change in weather conditions may offer an opportunity in combating the fires that continue to affect several municipalities across the country.
However, authorities caution that care must be taken with the drop in temperatures, as there is a risk of reignitions.
On Tuesday, over 80 municipalities in the districts of Vila Real, Bragança, Guarda, Coimbra, Santarém, Castelo Branco, Portalegre, and Faro were at maximum fire risk.
The IPMA also placed several municipalities in the interior north, center, and Algarve at very high risk.
A reduction in risk is expected in the coming days, according to IPMA, but vigilance must be maintained.
The fire risk determined by IPMA has five levels, ranging from low to maximum, with the latter issued when weather conditions such as extreme heat and low humidity significantly increase the danger of ignition and spread of wildfires.
