Bad weather spares Algarve on Boxing Day
Lisbon’s fire brigade registered over 30 ‘occurrences’ in about two hours today due to heavy rain that fell in the city, causing several floods, and the closure of the tunnel in Avenida João XXI.
Speaking to Lusa, a source for the service said that between 10am and midday, “there was a peak of occurrences, 34; currently the only critical area is the tunnel of Avenida João XXI, which is closed to traffic.
“Flooding has been recorded all over the city, especially in the riverside area of Pedrouços, the North-South main road near Avenida de Ceuta and the road to Chelas”.
According to the same source, in addition to the flooding in public spaces, there are “several sheets of water all over the city that will resolve themselves.
“As the weather improves, the water will disappear and the operatives will remain in the flooding areas to resolve the situations,” he said.
The official said there was no timetable to reopen the João XXI Avenue Tunnel, which links Campo Pequeno to Afonso Costa Avenue, in Areeiro.
The district of Lisbon was under yellow warning from the Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), between 10:00 and 11:00 today due to the forecast of precipitation, sometimes strong, occasionally accompanied by thunderstorms.
IPMA then extended this warning until midday
The Algarve however has escaped the onslaught, basking in warm temperatures and quite a bit of sunshine.
