Brace Yourself: Storm Nuria Brings Heavy Rain and Snow to Portugal

Atmospheric Instability Set to Last Until Saturday

After a few days of warmth, Portugal is now bracing for a period of atmospheric instability. Nuria, the first storm of April, is expected to return heavy rain and strong winds, with effects anticipated until Saturday, April 5.

This marks the 14th storm of the year, named Nuria by the Spanish Meteorological Institute, AEMET. The storm is expected to position itself west of the Iberian Peninsula by the end of Thursday, moving slowly northward, with impacts already felt in Portugal.

The first front arrived on Tuesday afternoon, bringing light rain and cloud cover across the country, particularly in the south. However, the true impact of the storm will be felt starting Wednesday.

🌀 AEMET names the storm Nuria.
🌬️ On Thursday, it will cause strong gusts of wind and intense rainfall in the Canary Islands.
👉 It will affect the Peninsula starting Thursday night, especially the western region, with extremely strong winds and heavy rainfall. pic.twitter.com/I5ifqhy1i1

According to climatologist Mário Marques, the storm will cause instability in the country for about three to four days. While not overly significant, there may be strong showers and thunderstorms, particularly on the 2nd and 3rd in the south, and on the 4th and 5th in the north.

Thursday is expected to be the peak day of the storm, with heavy rain and wind sweeping from south to north. Thunderstorms are likely, especially in the afternoon, along with snowfall in the higher elevations of the Serra da Estrela and potential flooding.

Additionally, Nuria is associated with a cold front, meaning temperatures will drop to "normal values," as last week saw unusually high temperatures for April.

Currently, yellow warnings have been issued for the Azores and Madeira, with further alerts expected from the IPMA for the mainland.

The storm is anticipated to calm down by Saturday afternoon, still under cloudy skies with some drizzle, although temperatures are expected to rise.

The storm will extend across the Iberian Peninsula, impacting Spain starting Wednesday, with forecasts of strong winds and heavy rainfall.

Change in weather starting tomorrow‼️
A new #borrasca will bring widespread and intense #rain on Wednesday (especially in the afternoon), Thursday (mainly in the southwest), and Friday.
As the storm passes, temperatures will drop. pic.twitter.com/SFdHohMutP

For the rest of the month, a "great atmospheric variability" is expected: after Nuria passes, a week of calm with "spring openings" will follow, but wet weather is set to return for Easter, living up to the saying "April showers bring May flowers."

"Nuria will be the start of a train of storms with associated fronts," concludes the climatologist.