After ‘super dry December’, January looks like bringing downpours
Portugal’s Civil Protection authority has issued a warning today about the possibility of floods, landslides, slippery roads and accidents due to worsening weather conditions in mainland Portugal from Sunday.
According to the warning, rain could be particularly heavy on Monday and Tuesday, especially in central and southern regions (the latter being ‘desperate for rain’). Winds too will be strong, says national emergency and civil protection authority ANEPC, citing forecasts by meteorological entity IPMA.
While rain hits the centre and south, snow could fall in northern and central mountains, and there will be rough seas on the coast from Tuesday.
Because of all these likely scenarios, ANEPC warns of the possibility of flooding in urban areas – due to obstruction of drainage systems, water coming in from the sea, rivers bursting banks, etc – as well as landslides, slippery road surfaces, beachside accidents, ‘thermal discomfort due to wind intensity’ and flying objects/ hoardings breaking loose.
As measures of prevention, ANEPC recommends unblocking rainwater drainage systems, properly securing scaffolding, advertising panels and other structures, and adopting defensive driving/ reducing speed.
The habitual warnings over taking “special care when traveling along the coastline and riverside areas that are historically more vulnerable to coastal flooding”/ avoiding remaining in these areas for any period of time, are repeated.
People should also “refrain from sport fishing, water sports and seaside walks”, parking vehicles too close to seafronts and crossing flooded areas which could see them “or vehicles being dragged into holes in the pavement or open sewage tanks”.
All in all, people are being advised to ‘think twice’, and try to stay safe and dry.
According to information at the moment, the rain could be around, in some form or other (including thunder storms), until January 29. ND
Information from: Lusa/ The Weather Channel
