The heat is a “relatively punctual situation”: temperatures will begin to rise this Friday and will return to normal for this time of year by Tuesday of next week.
Temperatures on Saturday and Sunday will experience a sharp rise above the average for the month of April, with highs above 30 degrees expected, especially in the Alentejo and Tagus Valley, said meteorologist Patricia Gomes.
In statements to Lusa, the meteorologist from the Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), said that for this Friday, rain is still expected for the northern and central regions, which will be more frequent in the Minho and Douro litoral region, but a slight increase in temperatures is already expected.
“The biggest increase will be for tomorrow, Saturday, where it is expected to be sharp in some parts of the country. We are talking about variations compared to today, between 6 and 8 degrees. On Sunday we will have another rise in temperature, more significant in the coastal regions, and then we will have quite high temperature values a little bit throughout the territory. We’re talking about over 30 degrees in some places like the Alentejo and the Tagus Valley region,” he said.
According to Patrícia Gomes, Monday will be the hottest day, with temperatures between 28 and 29 degrees and above 30 degrees in some places, and close to 34 degrees in the Tagus Valley and Alentejo.
“It will be a relatively unique situation. Temperatures will begin to rise today, but from Tuesday, the 18th, a gradual decrease is expected. In the first days of the week the values will be high and in the end many places will return and have temperatures more usual for this time of year between 20 and 25 degrees, in the Alentejo will be above, “he said.
The IPMA meteorologist stressed that the temperature values are above what is normal for the season.
“In some places we are talking about variations of 5 to 7 degrees above what is normal for this time of year,” he said.
Based on the weather forecast for the next few days, the rural fire danger in mainland Portugal will worsen.
“The risk of forest fires will increase with the temperatures. The synoptic situation leads to dry weather. The relative humidity values will be relatively low, especially in the interior and in the Alentejo regions, and also by the wind, which will be more intense, especially in the highlands. This combination of factors will lead to a slight increase in the risk throughout the country,” he concluded.
According to the IPMA, the municipalities of Tavira and São Brás de Alportel, in the district of Faro, are currently at the highest risk for rural fires.
The IPMA has also classified the parishes of Sardoal and Mação (Santarém), Gavião (Portalegre), Aljezur, Lagos, Portimão, Monchique, Silves, Loulé, Alcoutim and Castro Marim (Faro) as being at very high risk.
More than 40 parishes in the districts of Faro, Beja, Évora, Leiria, Santarém, Portalegre, Castelo Branco, Viseu, Guarda and Bragança are also in high fire danger.
The IPMA predicts that the fire danger will worsen until Tuesday and that it will spread over a larger area.
The fire danger, as determined by the IPMA, has five levels, from low to maximum.
The calculations are based on air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and rainfall over the past 24 hours.