The week starting today will bring significant heat, but don’t be mistaken for the arrival of summer. The coming days will also see rain, and by Easter, snow might even fall.
The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) reports that the sudden rise in temperatures begins today, April 7, with thermometers reaching 24ºC in Braga and 23ºC in Leiria and Santarém.
Lisbon is expected to reach a high of 23ºC, Porto 18ºC, Évora 22ºC, and Faro 21ºC.
The coolest district will be Guarda, with a maximum of 17ºC and a minimum of 6ºC.
For mainland Portugal, IPMA forecasts a partly cloudy sky, except for Bragança, where the sun is predicted to shine. In contrast, the Azores and Madeira are expected to have showers.
On Tuesday, April 8, temperatures are set to rise even further, reaching 27ºC in Braga, Viseu, Leiria, and Santarém. Porto is expected to see temperatures rise to 26ºC, Lisbon and Évora to 25ºC, and Faro to 24ºC. The district remaining coolest will be Guarda, with a high of 19ºC and a low of 9ºC.
The sky will be cloudy with high clouds, while showers will continue in the autonomous regions.
For Wednesday, April 9, the IPMA predicts mainland temperatures reaching levels typical of August. Braga, Coimbra, and Leiria are expected to reach 29ºC, Viana do Castelo, Porto, and Santarém 28ºC, and Aveiro and Setúbal 27ºC.
In Lisbon, the maximum temperature should be 25ºC, the same as in Évora, with Faro at 24ºC. The sky, meanwhile, will remain cloudy, with a few clouds.
For the Azores, IPMA forecasts rain for all islands except Flores and Corvo, with temperatures ranging from a maximum of 18ºC to a minimum of 12ºC. In Madeira, where showers will continue, temperatures should rise to 21ºC and drop to 14ºC.
Despite the warmth earlier in the week, from Thursday onward, temperatures will drop again, and rainfall will return across much of the country.
Meteorologists indicate that the week preceding Easter will be quite wet and cool, with even the possibility of snow in the Serra da Estrela region during the festive period.
