Heatwave fuels extreme wildfire risk across Portugal

Most of mainland Portugal remains at high or maximum risk of wildfires as the country continues to endure an intense heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 40°C in some areas.

According to the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), around 100 municipalities across northern and central inland Portugal are at maximum wildfire risk on Tuesday. A further 13 municipalities in the districts of Évora, Beja and Faro are also at the highest alert level, unchanged from Monday.

The municipalities most at risk are spread across the districts of Bragança, Braga, Vila Real, Porto, Viseu, Guarda, Coimbra, Santarém, Castelo Branco, Portalegre, Évora, Beja and Faro.

Almost all remaining areas of mainland Portugal are classified as being at very high or high wildfire risk, with only a small number of municipalities in the districts of Viana do Castelo, Braga, Porto, Aveiro, Coimbra, Leiria, Lisbon and Setúbal falling below those levels.

IPMA calculates wildfire risk using a combination of factors, including air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and rainfall recorded over the previous 24 hours.

In response to the ongoing heatwave, the government has extended the state of alert across 10 districts until 11.59pm on Thursday.

The measure applies to Vila Real, Bragança, Guarda, Viseu, Castelo Branco, Santarém, Portalegre, Évora, Beja and Faro, with the Ministry of Internal Administration citing forecasts of “very adverse conditions” continuing across inland regions.

Authorities warned that temperatures are expected to remain above 35°C in many areas, while relative humidity could fall below 20%, particularly in the Algarve, inland regions and the Tagus Valley. Forecasts also point to the possibility of dry thunderstorms and wind gusts exceeding 40km/h, significantly increasing the risk of wildfires.

The extended alert brings a series of temporary restrictions aimed at reducing the risk of ignition. These include bans on entering certain forest areas, carrying out controlled or uncontrolled burning, and using machinery such as brush cutters with metal blades, shredders and other equipment capable of generating sparks in forest and rural areas.

Some essential activities remain exempt, including feeding livestock, agricultural work in irrigated or non-forested areas where there is no fire risk, manual cork harvesting, honey collection and urgent construction work where appropriate fire prevention measures are in place.

Agricultural harvesting using machinery, including combine harvesters, and forestry operations are also permitted between sunset and 11am, provided operators adopt fire prevention measures and notify the relevant Municipal Civil Protection Service in advance.

The restrictions have been in force since Friday and will remain in place while the current heatwave persists.

Source: Lusa