Maximum or high risk of rural fires in the north, center and Algarve

Almost all municipalities in the north, center and Algarve regions are currently at maximum or very high risk of rural fires, according to data from the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA).

On the north coast, only the municipalities of Esposende (Braga), Póvoa de Varzim (Porto) and Murtosa, Aveiro and Ílhavo (all in the district of Aveiro) are at moderate risk of rural fires.

In the Algarve, the municipalities of Olhão, Faro, Albufeira, and Lagoa are the only ones at moderate risk. For the remaining municipalities, the IPMA forecasts high to maximum risk.

According to IPMA calculations, the danger 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 hazard, determined by the IPMA, has five levels, ranging from low to high. Calculations are obtained from air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and precipitation over the last 24 hours.

For today, the IPMA forecasts warm weather with generally clear skies, sometimes strong winds on the coastal strip north of Cabo Raso and in the highlands.

With the exception of the Algarve, mainland Portugal is under a yellow alert. Among the archipelagos, most of Madeira Island is also under a yellow alert.

Setúbal is expected to be the hottest city on the continent, with a forecast maximum temperature of 40 degrees, followed by Lisbon and Santarém with 39 degrees.