The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) yesterday updated and worsened the weather warnings for the next few days, placing the districts of Braga, Aveiro, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Porto and Viseu under orange warning between Friday and Saturday , due to heavy rain.

Thus, “very cloudy or overcast sky” and “rain, sometimes heavy and persistent, temporarily decreasing in intensity and frequency during the morning and afternoon” are expected for the northern and central regions. There is also a forecast of “the possibility of a thunderstorm occurring in the afternoon”.

For the south, “periods of rain are also expected, which can sometimes be heavy until late morning and late in the day”, with forecast of “light to moderate wind (up to 30 km / h) from the southwest, becoming moderate to strong (30 to 40 km/h) in the coastal strip from late afternoon, with gusts up to 65 km/h”.

In the greater Lisbon area there are “periods of rain, sometimes heavy until early morning and late afternoon”, as well as “light to moderate wind (up to 30 km / h) from the southwest, becoming moderate to strong (30 to 40 km/h) from late afternoon, with gusts up to 65 km/h”.

In Greater Porto, forecast of “rain, sometimes heavy and persistent, temporarily decreasing in intensity and frequency during the morning and afternoon. The wind will be” weak to moderate (up to 30 km / h) from the southwest, becoming moderate a strong (30 to 45 km/h) from late afternoon with gusts up to 70 km/h”.

For the entire continental territory, the minimum temperature is expected to rise (varies between 11ºC in Bragança and 19ºC in Santarém, Lisbon, Sines, Sagres and Faro) and a drop in the maximum temperature (between 16ºC in Guarda and 22ºC Faro, Setúbal, Santarém and Braga).

The Civil Protection Alert

It should also be remembered that the Civil Protection issued yesterday a warning to the population about adverse weather conditions, due to the return of heavy rain until Monday, with the possibility of flooding in urban areas.

Slippery road floor due to the possible formation of water tables, flooding in historically vulnerable places, and damage to mounted or suspended structures, as well as the possibility of falling branches or trees, are some of the usual consequences in this context, for which the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority, in a statement.

The alert is extended to “possible accidents on the coastline”.

Drivers are recommended to adopt defensive driving. Likewise, crossing flooded areas should be avoided “to prevent the dragging of people or vehicles into holes in the pavement or open sewer boxes”.

Take special care when circulating and staying close to wooded areas or the coast are other advice from the Authority.

In rural areas vulnerable to flooding and flooding, they must be removed with agricultural machinery and animals to a safe place.