Severe Weather Alert: Portugal Faces High Waves, Strong Winds, and Snowfall This Week

Severe Weather Conditions Expected

The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) has raised the alert level from seven to ten districts under a red warning, the most severe category, due to expected strong maritime agitation on January 29 and 30. Additionally, several districts are under orange and yellow warnings for rain, strong winds, and snowfall.

Affected Districts

The following districts will be under red warning from 6 PM today until 6 AM Thursday: Porto, Faro, Setúbal, Viana do Castelo, Lisbon, Leiria, Beja, Aveiro, Coimbra, and Braga. The IPMA forecasts northwest waves reaching heights of 7 to 8 meters, potentially hitting a maximum of 15 meters.

Due to these forecasts, the National Maritime Authority (AMN) has issued alerts regarding worsening sea conditions in continental Portugal until midnight on Friday. The maritime bars of Aveiro, Caminha, Douro, Esposende, Figueira da Foz, Vila Praia de Âncora, Póvoa de Varzim, Vila do Conde, Ericeira, São Martinho do Porto, and Alvor will be closed to all navigation this Thursday. Viana do Castelo and Leixões will restrict access to vessels under 30 and 24 meters in length, respectively.

Wind and Snow Warnings

The IPMA has also issued orange warnings for Porto, Viana do Castelo, Lisbon, Leiria, Coimbra, and Braga due to expected strong winds with gusts up to 100 km/h until 9 AM Wednesday, after which it will downgrade to yellow. Bragança, Viseu, Guarda, Faro, Vila Real, Setúbal, Beja, Castelo Branco, and Aveiro are under yellow warnings until Thursday due to strong winds.

Additionally, Bragança, Viseu, Porto, Guarda, Castelo Branco, Vila Real, Viana do Castelo, Aveiro, Coimbra, and Braga are under yellow warnings for rain. Guarda, Bragança, Vila Real, Viana do Castelo, Braga, and Castelo Branco also have yellow warnings due to expected snowfall above 1000/1200 meters from 6 PM Wednesday to midnight Thursday.

The north coast of Madeira and Porto Santo will be under yellow warning from 6 AM to 3 PM Thursday due to strong maritime agitation.

The red warning signifies an extreme weather risk, while the orange warning indicates moderate to high risk, and yellow warns of risks to specific weather-dependent activities.