Cold will be a threat to Portugal for a few more days… and smoke too!
AN week started cold in Portugal. Minimum temperatures were well below 0°C in inland areas – especially near the mountains –, and frost took place in a significant area of the interior (Alto Minho, Alto Douro and Tâmega, Nordeste Transmontano, Beira Alta, Beira Baixa, Viseu Dão-Lafões, Alto Alentejo) and occasionally other locations in the North and Center regions.
The polar air has practically dissipated from our country, opening the way at pressurized highs that will be strengthened from the Atlantic. However, the anticyclone scenario will contribute to very low night temperatures in the coming days (especially in areas of valleys, hills and accommodated to thermal inversions), before maximum temperatures that will gradually rise.
Slow and gradual rise in temperature
This Monday (30) prevails a stable, cold and dry weather from north to south of mainland Portugalwith an almost completely clear sky throughout the entire extension of our geography, despite the appearance of some high clouds in Central Alentejo (Évora). After (more) one intensely cold morningthe daytime temperature registered (naturally) a rise in the country, despite the value of maximum does not exceed 14 ºC in the district capital of the Algarve (nose).
The minimum dropped to -4 ºC for a few hours in the morning and in the highest city in mainland Portugal (guard). Either way, in the coming hours and days, the temperature remains below the climatological average for this time of year, it is recommended to reinforce winter coats. It is therefore not surprising that the yellow notice which is in effect for cold weather until Wednesday (1) and/or Thursday (2).
For Tuesday (31) a very similar weather condition is expected: cold, dry and mostly sunny. A small rise in temperature is expected, both the maximum and the minimum, with the formation of frost in vast extensions of the interior and also in some places in the Metropolitan Areas of the harbor it’s from Lisbon.
The generator of fog and morning mists, more likely in the valleys of the Northeast Transmontano (Bragança) and Beira Alta (Guarda). The wind will blow weak from the east quadranttemporarily subdued on the southern coast of the Algarve.
On Wednesday (1) there should be no big news from the meteorological point of view in Portugal. The weather will remain stable, dry, with clear or slightly cloudy skies as it is completely dominated by the anticyclone, something that will also be reinforced by the easterly flow. (Will blow weak in general, but moderate to strong in the North and Central highlands).
Even so, for this day it is foreseen, again, a temperature rise, both the maximum and the minimum. AN frost will cover a smaller geographical extent and the fog or morning mist will come back to power born in some places in the districts of Bragança and Guarda.
Yellow warning for cold weather will end on Thursday
For now, everything points to the yellow warning for cold weather ends on Thursday (2), due to the expectation of a gradual recovery in temperatures (which no longer justifies issuing a yellow warning). AN Maximum temperature on this day must already reach or surpass the 15ºC in several district capitals, such as Coimbra, leiria, santarem, SetubalÉvoraamong others, and the night will be less cold, with minimum equal to or less than 0°C only in the cities of Bragança and Guarda.
Clear skies are expected again in an overwhelming extension of the territory of Portugal, except perhaps in some points at high altitude in the center interior. THE wind continues to blow weak from the east, but with greater intensity in the northern and central highlands. More frost should form in some areas of the interior.
Portugal will live an anticyclonic weekend
According to our trust model the The final stretch of the week is expected to be practically the same, with anticyclonic and dry weather. The temperature should stabilize, no major fluctuations are expected. The fog or morning mist should continue to appear in some places in the interior, where the frost will persist, but not as intense in duration and extent as in the days that precede it.
Which cities are forecast to have the highest fuel levels this week?
This week atmospheric combustion will take center stage in meteorology. In anticyclone situations, pollutants do not dissipate due to subsidence processes, thermal inversions and absence of wind associated with high pressures. So they have propensity to accumulate, especially in large urban centers. As indicated by the ECMWFas the week goes on, the rises will gain ground in Portugal. Because of this, it is expected increased concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and PM 2.5 particles.
Our air quality maps anticipate limits equal to or greater than 30 µg/m³ of PM 2.5 in much of the Atlantic coastlinefrom the district of Viana do Castelo to that of Lisbon, with that of Porto may be the one where the most dangerous concentrations of fine particles in suspension for human health will be affected between the last hours of Tuesday (31) and the first hours of Wednesday (1).
It is expected that the district of Porto will temporarily reach values around 60 µg/m³, well over double the daily limit established by the WHO = 15 µg/m³. In an ephemeral way, on Thursday (2nd), there may be a new rise in the values of PM 2.5 concentrations. Inland and in the south of the Tagus, there is no reason to worry.
About the nitrogen guide, remember that the average daily limit established by the WHO is 25 µg/m³. Between today and Thursday it is expected, during some seasons of the day, concentrations between 30 and 40 µg/m³ in the area corresponding to the cities of Braga, Porto, Aveiro and Coimbra, as well as Lisbon, it being possible that these territories occasionally had 50 µg/m³. Like PM 2.5, the main source of nitrogen dioxide is road traffic.