More than 60 municipalities are in the maximum fire danger zone

More than 60 municipalities are at maximum fire risk due to the hot weather on Tuesday, according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), which has placed eight areas under yellow warning.

More than 60 municipalities in the districts of Santarem, Faro, Vila Real, Leiria, Portalegre, Castelo Branco, Guarda, Viseu and Bragança are at the highest risk of fire.

The highest maximum temperature forecast for this Tuesday will be reached in Castelo Branco with 39 degrees Celsius, followed by Beja and Evora with 37, Portalegre with 36 and Bragança with 34.

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 a yellow warning for the districts of Bragança, Évora, Guarda, Faro, Setúbal, Beja, Castelo Branco and Portalegre until 6:00 pm on Wednesday.

A yellow warning is issued by IPMA when a risk situation arises for certain activities depending on the meteorological situation.

IPMA forecasts clear to sunny skies on Tuesday across the continent, morning cloudiness on the west coast, moderate to strong northerly winds on the coast and in highlands, and morning fog or mist in some places on the west coast.

Minimum temperatures will range from 15 degrees (in Braga) to 23 degrees (in Portalegre), and maximum temperatures from 24 (in Aveiro) to 39 degrees (in Castelo Branco).