High temperatures and strong winds are expected to hit Portugal's interior on Thursday and Friday, with the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) warning that thermometers could surpass 40 degrees Celsius. The situation is exacerbated by strong southerly winds, increasing the risk of wildfires in these regions.
According to meteorologist Jorge Ponte from IPMA, while coastal areas will see a drop in temperatures, the interior will remain extremely hot, with strong winds particularly affecting highland areas. Districts like Bragança and Vila Real are expected to reach 39 degrees, with the Douro Valley potentially exceeding 40 degrees.
A slight temperature relief is forecasted for the weekend across most of the country, except for the Algarve, where temperatures are set to rise. However, it's only by Monday, August 18, that weather conditions are expected to become less adverse, with lower maximum temperatures and increased humidity, aiding in the fight against the wildfires currently affecting the Central and Northern regions.
The President of the Republic, currently on vacation in the Algarve, highlighted Friday as the most challenging day regarding fire risks, following a meeting with the Prime Minister in Faro. Portugal has been on alert due to the high risk of rural fires since August 2, with 63,247 hectares of forest areas already burned this year, half of which in the last three weeks, and 5,963 fires recorded, mostly in the North and Center regions.
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