A spell of bad weather is set to hit Portugal from Monday, bringing rain, thunderstorms and a noticeable drop in temperatures after several days of unusually warm conditions.
According to the Portuguese Sea and Atmosphere Institute (IPMA), the change is being driven by a low-pressure system forming west of the mainland and moving south, where it is expected to remain between Madeira and continental Portugal throughout the week.
From Monday, cloudiness will increase and rain will begin in southern coastal areas before gradually spreading northwards and inland. The heaviest and most frequent rainfall is forecast for Tuesday, when thunderstorms are also possible, IPMA predicts.
Winds from the south are expected to strengthen, particularly in higher altitude areas, with gusts reaching up to 80 km/h on Tuesday.
Temperatures are also set to fall sharply. Maximum temperatures could drop by as much as 10 degrees in some areas, with most of the country expected to see daytime highs below 20°C. Minimum temperatures will also decrease slightly, ranging between 8°C and 12°C.
The weather system may also bring dust in the air on Monday, which is expected to move eastwards from Tuesday afternoon.
Looking ahead, sea conditions are set to worsen midweek, particularly along the western coast, where waves of four to five metres from the northwest are forecast for Wednesday.
