Portuguese weather authorities have placed nine districts under yellow warnings as a continental air mass brings a prolonged spell of hot and dry weather to the Iberian Peninsula, with temperatures expected to peak at 38 degrees Celsius, according to the Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera (IPMA).
Expanded Yellow Warnings Across Nine Districts
The IPMA updated its weather alerts, extending the end time for yellow warnings across all affected areas until 19:00 on Monday. The yellow warnings cover the districts of Viana do Castelo, Braga, Porto, Aveiro, Coimbra, Leiria, Santarém, Lisboa, and Setúbal. While warnings for Coimbra, Leiria, and Lisboa entered into effect earlier in the day, the remaining districts are scheduled under the advisory starting at 09:00 on Sunday.
According to the IPMA, the yellow alert is the least severe on a three-tier scale and signals a risk for weather-dependent activities. The atmospheric conditions are driven by an anticiclone located north of the Azores, stretching in a ridge toward the Bay of Biscay, which transports continental warm and dry air across the region.
Temperature Projections and Heatwave Probability
Maximum temperatures are projected to exceed 30 degrees Celsius across most of the mainland territory, climbing near 38 degrees Celsius in locations such as the Alentejo and the Vale do Tejo, according to the IPMA. Minimum temperatures will also rise slightly, staying at or above 20 degrees Celsius in parts of Alto Alentejo, Beira Baixa, Vale do Tejo, and sotavento algarvio.
The weather service indicates that this hot spell is notable for its duration rather than record-breaking peak values, carrying a high probability of developing into a heatwave across much of the country. An official heatwave is defined by the institute when maximum air temperatures exceed the baseline reference average by 5 degrees Celsius over a consecutive six-day period.
Did You Know? The IPMA defines a heatwave as a period of six consecutive days where the maximum air temperature exceeds the normal daily average by at least 5 degrees Celsius for a specific reference period.
Wildfire Risks and Civil Protection Warnings
In response to the sharp temperature increases, the IPMA has raised rural wildfire danger levels to very high and maximum across the Norte, Centro, Alto Alentejo, and Algarve regions. Approximately 40 municipalities in the Centro region and the Algarve currently face maximum rural fire risks.
The Autoridade Nacional de Emergência e Proteção Civil issued warnings regarding the hazards tied to agricultural burning, brush clearing, and related fieldwork as these weather conditions persist through the coming days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which districts are covered by the IPMA yellow warnings?
The yellow warnings cover the districts of Viana do Castelo, Braga, Porto, Aveiro, Coimbra, Leiria, Santarém, Lisboa, and Setúbal.
What maximum temperatures are expected during this weather event?
Temperatures are expected to reach above 30 degrees Celsius across most of the mainland, nearing 38 degrees Celsius in the Alentejo and Vale do Tejo.
How are authorities responding to the wildfire threat?
The IPMA placed the Norte, Centro, Alto Alentejo, and Algarve regions under very high to maximum wildfire risk, prompting the Autoridade Nacional de Emergência e Proteção Civil to warn against agricultural burning and open fires.
How will your local area manage the elevated wildfire risks and high temperatures over the coming days?
Related reading