North and centre of country in similar situation
Almost all municipalities in the northern and central interior and seven municipalities in the Algarve are currently at maximum risk of rural fires, according to data from the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA).
In the north and centre of mainland Portugal, all municipalities in the districts of Bragança and Guarda, most municipalities in Castelo Branco, and also in Coimbra, Santarém and Portalegre are at maximum risk of fire.
In the district of Faro, the municipalities of Lagos, Portimão, Monchique, Silves, Loulé, São Brás de Alportel and Tavira are all at maximum risk of fire, with other areas following closely behind.
Across the mainland, only the municipality of Esposende (Braga) is not considered at risk of fire.
According to IPMA’s calculations, the risk of rural fires will remain high in the coming days in these same regions of the northern and central interior and in the Algarve.
This risk, determined by the IPMA, has five levels, ranging from low to maximum. The calculations are based on air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and rainfall over the last 24 hours.
For today, the IPMA forecasts generally clear or slightly cloudy skies across the mainland, with stronger winds on the coast and in the highlands, especially in the afternoon.
With the exception of Lisbon, Leiria and Aveiro, mainland Portugal is under a yellow warning. In the archipelagos, most of the territory of the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo is also under a yellow warning.
Ten-day forecasts put temperatures generally hovering around the 30ºs in almost all regions of the south/ centre.
meantime, after a complicated weekend in which at times there were 40 fires blazing in different parts of the country, firefighters have succeeded in bringing this number down to around four which are still presenting complications – the most significant being a wildfire in Lindoso, Ponte da Barca, (Viana do Castelo district) which has been threatening homes and property.
Source material: Lusa
