More than 30 Portuguese municipalities on maximum wildfire alert

More than 30 municipalities across northern and central Portugal are facing the highest risk of wildfires on Monday, according to the Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA).

The areas at maximum risk are concentrated in the districts of Bragança, Castelo Branco, Guarda, Viseu, Coimbra and Portalegre.

A further 100 municipalities in the districts of Bragança, Vila Real, Braga, Porto, Aveiro, Viseu, Guarda, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Leiria, Santarém, Portalegre and Faro are classified as being at very high risk.

The entire Alentejo region, along with dozens of municipalities in the districts of Faro, Setúbal, Lisbon, Leiria, Santarém, Portalegre, Coimbra, Aveiro, Viseu, Porto, Braga, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real and Bragança, remains under a high wildfire risk warning.

IPMA assesses rural fire danger on a five-level scale, ranging from low to maximum. The index takes into account factors including air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and rainfall recorded over the previous 24 hours.

Despite a slight easing in temperatures forecast for Monday, meteorologists are warning of continued fire danger across much of the country. IPMA expects the possibility of showers and thunderstorms in inland areas.

Maximum temperatures are forecast to range from 25ºC in Aveiro and Sines to 37ºC in Bragança, Castelo Branco and Évora. Overnight lows are expected to vary between 17ºC in Viana do Castelo, Porto, Aveiro, Leiria, Setúbal, Sines and Sagres, and 25ºC in Portalegre.

Last week, Interior Minister Maria Lúcia Amaral urged the public to avoid activities that could trigger fires as temperatures rise.

The minister warned against using machinery such as disc mowers and certain agricultural equipment, carrying out controlled burns, and setting off fireworks or releasing sky lanterns during upcoming São João celebrations.

Source: Lusa

Inês Lopes

Newspaper editor at The Portugal Resident