All the municipalities in the districts of Bragança and Guarda, as well as most of those in Viseu, Vila Real, Castelo Branco, and Faro, are under maximum fire danger, as reported by the IPMA.
Several municipalities in the districts of Viana do Castelo, Braga, Porto, Coimbra, Santarém, and Portalegre are also at maximum risk.
Over fifty municipalities across the districts of Faro, Beja, Portalegre, Castelo Branco, Santarém, Leiria, Coimbra, Aveiro, and Porto are under a very high fire danger.
Close to one hundred municipalities are at high risk, covering most of Alentejo, and municipalities in the districts of Faro, Lisbon, Leiria, Coimbra, Aveiro, Porto, Braga, and Viana do Castelo.
Around 30 municipalities in the districts of Lisbon, Setúbal, Santarém, Leiria, Coimbra, Aveiro, and Braga face a moderate risk, according to the IPMA.
Throughout mainland Portugal, only nine municipalities on the northern coast show a reduced fire risk today: Aveiro and Espinho (Aveiro district), Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto, Matosinhos, Maia, Vila do Conde, Póvoa de Varzim (Porto district), and Esposende (Braga district).
The fire risk determined by the IPMA is categorized into five levels, ranging from reduced to maximum, with the latter issued when weather conditions, such as extreme heat and low humidity, significantly increase the risk of ignition and spread of fires.
Since August 2, Portugal has been on alert due to the rural fire risk. This year has already seen over 139,000 hectares of forest areas burned, half of which in just two days, with more than 6,229 fires, mostly in the North and Center regions.
The IPMA has also issued an orange warning for Bragança, Guarda, Castelo Branco, Portalegre, Évora, Beja, and Faro districts due to “persistent very high maximum temperature values.”
For today, the IPMA forecasts a slight decrease in maximum temperature, more significant on the west coast.
Winds are generally expected to be weak from the western quadrant, becoming moderate (up to 30 km/h) in the afternoon on the west coast and in higher altitude areas, and occasionally strong (up to 40 km/h) on the western coastal strip.
The IPMA also points to the possibility of scattered showers and thunderstorms in the North and Center regions until the mid-afternoon, especially in mountainous areas.
Minimum temperatures will range between 14°C in Viana do Castelo and 23°C in Castelo Branco and Faro, while maximums are expected to be between 22°C in Viana do Castelo and Aveiro and 41°C in Évora.
