Portugal Braces for Extreme Fire Risk as Temperatures Soar Above 40°C

Portugal is on high alert as more than 30 municipalities across nine districts face maximum wildfire risk today, with temperatures expected to exceed 40°C in some regions, according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA).

Districts Under Threat

The districts of Faro, Portalegre, Castelo Branco, Santarém, Leiria, Coimbra, Guarda, Viseu, and Bragança are among those at the highest risk. The IPMA has also placed several municipalities across all mainland districts under very high and high fire danger.

Weather Warnings in Place

• Yellow warnings are active for 16 mainland districts due to the hot weather.
• Bragança and Vila Real are under an orange warning until Wednesday at 18:00, downgrading to yellow until Thursday at 18:00.
• Other districts, including Viseu, Porto, Faro, and Lisbon, will remain under yellow warnings until Wednesday or Thursday evening.

Understanding the Fire Risk Levels

The IPMA's fire danger scale has five levels, from reduced to maximum, calculated based on:

• Air temperature
• Relative humidity
• Wind speed
• Precipitation over the last 24 hours

Today's Weather Forecast

The IPMA predicts continued hot weather across the mainland, with:

• Mostly clear skies
• Possible fog or mist on the southern Algarve coast
• Generally light winds
• Rising temperatures, especially minimums

Temperature ranges:

• Minimum: 16°C (Aveiro) to 26°C (Portalegre)
• Maximum: 29°C (Aveiro) to 42°C (Santarém)

This situation underscores the urgent need for caution to prevent wildfires during this period of extreme heat and dryness.