The heatwave leaves the entire country under an orange warning, with temperatures expected to reach 41 degrees.

According to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), which has placed the entire continent under orange alert, about 50 municipalities in eight counties are at maximum risk of fire on Tuesday due to the hot weather.

Around 50 municipalities in the districts of Faro, Portalegre, Castelo Branco, Viseu, Santarem, Bragança, Vila Real and Guarda are at the highest risk of fire.

The highest maximum temperatures forecast for today will be reached in Evora, Beja and Santarem (41 degrees Celsius), followed by Braga, Castelo Branco and Portalegre.

In the Vila Real area the maximum temperature will be 39 degrees, in Bragança – 38, Viseu, Coimbra and Lisbon – 37, and in Faro – 36.

IPMA has also placed several municipalities in all districts of mainland Portugal at very high fire risk.

IPMA estimates that fire danger will persist in some areas until at least Saturday.

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.

Due to the heat, IPMA has issued an orange warning for all counties (18) on the continent until 6pm on Wednesday.

Eighteen counties are under yellow alert until 9am Tuesday, then turn orange until 6pm Wednesday and turn yellow again until 6pm Thursday.

The Madeira archipelago is also under a yellow warning until 6pm on Wednesday due to hot weather.

An orange warning is issued by IPMA whenever a “moderate to high risk meteorological situation” occurs, and a yellow warning when there is a risk situation for certain activities depending on the meteorological situation.

IPMA forecasts continued hot weather across the continent with partly cloudy to clear skies, light to moderate winds, rising minimum temperatures and slightly higher maximums in the inland north and central regions and the Algarve.

Minimum temperatures will range from 17 degrees (in Aveiro) to 26 degrees (in Portalegre), and maximum temperatures will range from 28 (in Aveiro) to 41 (in Evora, Beja and Santarem).

The Madeira archipelago is expected to see light to clear skies with periods of more cloud until early morning, light to moderate winds and a slight increase in maximum temperatures in the highlands.

In Funchal, temperatures will range from 22 to 27 degrees, and in Porto Santo from 21 to 26 degrees.