Eight areas of the continent are under yellow warning due to heat

Eight areas of the continent will be under yellow warning on Thursday and Friday due to hot weather forecast and increased fire risk, according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA).

The areas of Bragança, Évora, Guarda, Faro, Setúbal, Beja, Castelo Branco and Portalegre will be under yellow warning from 12:00 Thursday to 18:00 Friday due to persistent high maximum temperatures.

IPMA predicts maximum temperatures on Thursday of 40 degrees Celsius in Evora, 39 in Beja, 36 in Castelo Branco, 35 in Setubal and Portalegre, 34 in Bragança, 33 in Faro and 31 in Guarda.

A yellow warning, the least serious of the three, is issued by IPMA whenever there is a risk situation for certain activities depending on the meteorological situation.

Due to hot weather, the municipalities of Silves, Loulé, São Bras de Alportel and Tavira in the Faro district are currently at the highest risk of rural fires.

More than 30 municipalities in the districts of Faro, Beja, Santarem, Portalegre, Castelo Branco, Guarda and Bragança are also currently at very high fire risk.

IPMA estimates that fire danger will remain in some areas until at least Sunday.

This risk, defined by IPMA, has five levels, from low to maximum. The calculations are based on air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and the amount of precipitation over the past 24 hours.

IPMA forecasts variable cloudiness to clear skies for today on the continent, generally light winds from the northern quadrant, moderate from the northwest on the coast south of Cabo Carvoeiro in the afternoon, possible fog or morning mist in some places, especially on the coast in the north and central regions, and a slight increase in temperatures.

Minimum temperatures will range from 13 degrees Celsius (in Leiria and Viseu) to 21 degrees Celsius (in Faro), while maximum temperatures will range from 23 (in Aveiro, Porto and Viana do Castelo) to 36 degrees (in Evora and Beja).