Hot weather is back, with temperatures rising to 38 degrees Celsius in Évora, and with it, the risk of fire, which reaches a maximum in 15 municipalities: Almodôvar, Castro Verde, Mértola and Serpa (Beja district); Sertã, Vila de Rei and Vila Velha de Ródão (Castelo Branco); Alcoutim, Loulé, São Brás de Alportel and Tavira (Faro); Gavião (Portalegre); Mação and Sardoal (Santarém); Santiago do Cacém (Setúbal).
The danger of rural fires will worsen from Friday onwards, with half or more of mainland Portugal in maximum and very high danger, at the same time that a rise in temperature is expected from the weekend onwards, with thermometers hover around 40 degrees Celsius in some regions and do not drop below 20 degrees Celsius. However, the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), “there is still significant uncertainty regarding the intensity, geographic distribution and duration of this hot weather episode”.
According to the institute, the “different models and their various simulations still present relevant differences, natural at this forecast distance, and it is expected that the forecasts will be adjusted in the coming days”.
For this Thursday, the IPMA predicts light or clear skies for the continent, with more cloudiness in the interior during the afternoon, with the possibility of showers and thunderstorms, in addition to weak to moderate winds. Minimum temperatures will range between 14 degrees Celsius (Leiria) and 22 degrees Celsius (Portalegre) and maximum temperatures between 22 degrees Celsius (Aveiro) and 38 degrees Celsius (Évora).
The state of the weather and climate They are different concepts. The weather forecast for these days corresponds to the instantaneous state of the atmosphere in Portugal, defined through meteorological variables such as temperature, precipitation, humidity, or wind speed. Climate consists of patterns recorded over several years. See more here about how day-to-day meteorological events may (or may not) reflect climate change and how these changes are intensifying extreme weather phenomena.
