About 40 municipalities in seven districts are in the maximum fire danger zone

According to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), about 40 municipalities in the districts of Faro, Portalegre, Castelo Branco, Viseu, Santarem, Bragança and Guarda are at maximum risk of rural fires this Friday due to the hot weather.

The highest maximum temperatures forecast for this Friday will be reached in Evora and Beja, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius.

In the Castelo Branco region the maximum temperature will be 38 degrees, in Portalegre – 37, in Faro and Santarem – 35, in Bragança – 34, and in Guarda and Viseu – 32.

IPMA also placed around 50 municipalities in the districts of Bragança, Vila Real, Viseu, Guarda, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Santarem, Portalegre, Beja and Faro at very high fire risk.

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

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 a yellow warning for the counties of Bragança, Évora, Guarda, Faro, Setúbal, Beja, Castelo Branco and Portalegre until 6:00 pm this Friday.

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.

IPMA forecasts clear to sunny skies this Friday across the continent, with periods of heavy cloud on the north and central coasts, as well as fog or mist in some places and stronger winds in the afternoon on the west coast of the southern region.

The forecast also indicates a slight increase in minimum and maximum temperatures (in the Algarve).

Minimum temperatures will range from 14 degrees Celsius (in Leiria) to 24 degrees Celsius (in Faro), while maximum temperatures will range from 24 (in Aveiro and Viana do Castelo) to 40 (in Evora and Beja).