Portugal is bracing for Storm Claudia, which is expected to bring rain and strong winds from Tuesday and linger at least until the weekend.
Northern districts including Viana do Castelo, Porto, and Braga are under yellow alerts, while Leiria, Aveiro, and Coimbra face warnings for rough seas. The islands won’t be spared, with heavy rain and thunderstorms forecast across the Madeira and Azores archipelagos.
“This is a large depression system in the North Atlantic with several centres, gradually approaching the Iberian Peninsula starting tomorrow (Tuesday),” meteorologist Jorge Ponte from the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) told national broadcaster SIC.
Despite the change in weather, temperatures are expected to remain stable, with daytime highs around 20–22°C and nighttime lows between 8–13°C.
Rain is set to intensify as the week progresses. By Wednesday afternoon, precipitation will likely move from the coast to the interior, affecting much of the country by Thursday, with showers and thunderstorms continuing through Friday and the weekend.
Wind will also pick up, especially in Leiria, Coimbra, and Aveiro, with gusts reaching up to 80 km/h in higher areas.
Authorities have also issued yellow warnings for rough seas, particularly along the mainland coast. On the islands, Madeira can expect heavy rain and thunderstorms on Wednesday, while the Azores are already under alert until Tuesday morning.
