Civil Defense raised alert status to orange in eight regions of the country

The National Emergency Management and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) announced this afternoon that eight regions in the center and south of the country have been raised to orange alert status as the Bernard Depression moves into effect this weekend.

This weekend, mainland Portugal will be affected by the passage of the Bernard depression, which will center in the south and move from southwest to northeast, affecting the south and center of the country, announced ANEPC national commander André Fernandez.

“It was decided to raise the special alert status of the integrated system of protection and assistance operations to the orange level for eight subregions of the continent, namely Leciria do Tejo, Greater Lisbon, Setúbal Peninsula, Alto Alentejo, Alentejo Central, Baixo. Alentejo, Alentejo Littoral and Algarve for 24 hours, starting at midnight and ending at 23:59 tomorrow (Sunday),” he added.

The official stressed that the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA) had issued orange weather warnings for precipitation south of the Tagus and yellow between the Douro and Tagus, as well as orange warnings for winds with maximum gusts of 100 kilometers per hour. for the Algarve region.

“Extreme wind events are also expected to occur south of the Tagus River, with greater frequency in Baixo Alentejo and the Algarve,” André Fernandez added.

The person in charge also reported warnings from the Portuguese Environment Agency regarding the likelihood of flooding in urban areas of Greater Lisbon and the Setúbal Peninsula.

Also in the Tagus River basin, in the Sorraia sub-basin, increased flows are expected in Amor and Coruz and the possibility of flooding, as well as in the Sado River basin, in Ribeira do Livramento, as well as in Setúbal. Finally, flooding is also possible on the coasts of the Algarve, in the most urban areas and historically most vulnerable to these phenomena.

Andre Fernandez called on “all citizens to take self-protective measures”, especially regarding wind and heavy rainfall, to prevent flooding in urban areas and in the aforementioned river basins, advising checking “everything that is suspended, balconies, billboards and everything that could be affected action of the wind.”

Driving precautions should also be taken on Sunday, with the commander suggesting “more defensive and proactive driving” but also limiting travel to what is strictly necessary.

The greatest frequency of severe weather will occur from midday Sunday until late tomorrow around 11pm, with worse than expected conditions especially on Monday morning.

An orange warning – the second most severe on a scale of three – is issued whenever a “moderate to high risk meteorological situation” occurs, and a yellow warning occurs when a risk situation arises for certain activities depending on the meteorological situation.