Thirty-eight municipalities in eight counties are in the zone of maximum fire danger

Thirty-eight municipalities in the districts of Vila Real, Bragança, Leiria, Guarda, Castelo Branco, Portalegre, Santarém and Faro pose the highest risk of rural fires this Monday, according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA).

The IPMA has also placed over 100 municipalities in the districts of Braga, Via Real, Bragança, Viseu, Porto, Aveiro, Coimbra, Leiria, Santarém, Lisbon, Guarda, Castelo Branco, Portalegre, Beja, Évora and Faro at very high risk.

Other municipalities in Viana do Castelo, Braga, Vila Real, Porto, Aveiro, Leiria, Lisbon, Santarém, Setúbal, Portalegre, Faro, Évora and Beja are under high fire threat this Monday.

Due to weather conditions, the risk of fire in some counties will continue until at least Friday.

This risk, defined by IPMA, has five levels, from low to high. Calculations are based on air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and rainfall over the last 24 hours.

IPMA predicts cloudy to clear weather on the continent this Monday, with temporary heavy cloud cover in the High North until noon, especially in the mountains where light and scattered showers are possible.

Strong winds are also expected on the west coast and in the highlands and a slight increase in temperature.

The minimum temperature will range from 10 degrees Celsius (in Bragança and Guarda) to 21 (in Faro), and the maximum – from 23 (in Viana do Castelo) to 34 (in Faro).