Anyone planning ‘ceremonies’ beside the sea this Carnival holiday should think again.
After the awful weather accompanying Storm Doris last month that saw one woman swept to her death as she and others left ‘gifts to the Queen of the seas’ on Ílhavo’s Costa Nova (click here) , Portugal has further wild waves set to batter its shores.
Swells from Lisbon northwards could reach up to 10 metres, warn meteorologists – putting the districts of Viana do Castelo, Braga, Porto, Aveiro, Coimbra, Leiria and Lisbon on orange alert.
The Algarve, Beja and Setúbal section of the country will fare much better, with waves unlikely to exceed five metres, says IPMA (sea and atmosphere institute).
Madeira too should escape the worst of the wild seas, expected to hit between 6am tomorrow and 9pm.
Wednesday should see conditions gradually improving, adds a spokesman for the national maritime authority – meaning this year’s “Carnival holiday” will be a no-go for aspirant beachgoers.
Indeed, maritime authorities are appealing to people to avoid coastal areas as much as possible, saying those that have to approach them they should “exercise a vigilant attitude and be aware that in these conditions, the sea can easily reach apparently safe areas”.
