Nine Algarve municipalities at very high risk of rural fires

Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere forecast indicates drop in maximum temperatures in the South

According to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA), around 80 municipalities in the Northern and Central interior of the country and the Northern Alentejo are at maximum risk of rural fires this Wednesday. The municipalities at maximum risk are located in the districts of Bragança, Vila Real, Braga, Porto, Coimbra, Guarda, Viseu, Castelo Branco, Santarém and Portalegre.

IPMA also classified more than 50 municipalities in the districts of Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Braga, Porto, Aveiro, Viseu, Coimbra, Leiria, Santarém, Guarda, Castelo Branco, Portalegre and Faro (Aljezur, Lagos, Monchique, Portimão, Silves, Loulé, São Brás de Alportel, Tavira and Alcoutim), at very high risk of rural fires.

The fire risk, determined by the IPMA, has five levels ranging from reduced to maximum. The calculations for each level are based on the air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and precipitation in the last 24 hours.

IPMA’s forecast for today points to a drop in the maximum temperature in the South, and the Northern and Central interior of the country, with showers and thunderstorms in the North and Centre, especially inland.

The minimum temperatures will fluctuate between 15 degrees Celsius (Sines) and 22 degrees (Portalegre), and the maximum temperatures between 24 degrees (Sagres and Sines) and 37 degrees (Castelo Branco).