Extreme heat: Portugal under red warning and state of alert
Portugal’s weather service IPMA extends the red warning to Aveiro, Beja, Braga, Évora, Portalegre, Porto, Santarém and Viana do Castelo at least until Sunday. The government declares a state of alert and tightens access to forests.
The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) has placed 12 of mainland Portugal's 18 districts under red warning (the most severe level on the scale, which alerts to a "meteorological situation of extreme risk"), from Thursday and at least until Saturday, due to the forecast hot weather, with a "persistent spell of extremely high temperatures, both daytime highs and overnight lows".
The red warning for heat will be extended from this Thursday to Beja, Évora, Portalegre and Santarém, in addition to Lisbon and Setúbal, and on Friday to Aveiro, Braga, Porto and Viana do Castelo, as well as Coimbra and Leiria.
The remaining six mainland districts, namely Bragança, Castelo Branco, Faro, Guarda, Vila Real and Viseu, will be under orange warning (the second highest level on the scale, which alerts to a "meteorological situation of moderate to high risk") between Thursday and Saturday, according to IPMA.
The previous weather forecasts, issued on Wednesday, had placed only the districts of Lisbon and Setúbal under red warning for heat from Thursday, extending to Coimbra and Leiria on Friday.
In a statement, IPMA says a "prolonged period of very hot, dry weather" is expected, with maximum temperatures reaching between 35 and 41 °C across most of the country, and between 41 and 44 °C in the Tagus valley and Alentejo.
"Minimum temperatures will also be above 20 °C in much of the mainland, with regions where temperatures are not expected to fall below 24 to 28 °C for several consecutive nights, including Greater Lisbon," the Portuguese meteorological institute notes.
IPMA explains that, "compared with the usual climate in mainland Portugal", the situation will be particularly unusual in coastal regions, "where the lack of inland progression of the sea breeze and/or its weak intensity will contribute to high temperatures over several consecutive days, making for a rare situation in some areas".
The weather in mainland Portugal is being influenced by an anticyclone located to the north/northwest of the Azores archipelago and, according to IPMA's forecasts, this episode of extreme heat is expected to last for at least a week.
IPMA has also warned of very high to extreme values of the Ultraviolet Index. Across the mainland, up to Friday 3 July, very high values are expected in all districts, ranging from a UV Index of 10, classified as very high, to an Index of 11, corresponding to an extreme value.
The authorities advise against exposure to the sun, especially around solar noon, when the UV Index reaches its maximum, and recommend the use of sunglasses with UV filter, a hat, T-shirt, sunshade and sunscreen.
Government declares alert situation
Following the persistence of high temperatures, the government has declared an alert situation from midnight on Friday. The announcement was made by the Minister for Internal Administration, Luís Neves, on Thursday.
The measure mainly provides for a ban on access to and movement within certain pre-defined forest areas, as well as a prohibition on controlled burning and the burning of agricultural waste. It also includes the "prohibition of carrying out work in forest areas using any type of machinery", except where this is required to fight rural fires.
Some "rules" to follow to avoid harming your health during a period of extreme heat:
- Drink at least 1.5 litres of water and avoid consuming alcoholic and caffeinated drinks;
- Try to stay in cool or air-conditioned environments, with shade and air circulation, and keep windows, blinds and shutters closed during the hottest periods;
- Avoid direct exposure to the sun, especially between 11.00 and 17.00, and use sunscreen with a protection factor of at least 30;
- Wear light-coloured, loose, lightweight clothing that covers most of the body, along with a hat and sunglasses with ultraviolet protection;
- Avoid outdoor activities that require intense physical effort;
- Choose the cooler times of day to travel by car, and do not remain inside parked vehicles exposed to the sun;
- Pay particular attention to groups more vulnerable to heat, such as children, older people, people with chronic illnesses, pregnant women and outdoor workers;
- In an emergency, if you show warning signs (such as profuse sweating, fever, vomiting/nausea or a rapid/weak pulse), contact SNS 24 on 808 24 24 24, or call the European emergency number 112.
