Portugal under yellow heat warning as temperatures set to hit 40°C, fire danger maximum
All mainland districts except Faro are under a yellow warning from 9am Monday to 6pm Tuesday, with Santarém and Évora forecast to reach 40°C and the interior possibly exceeding 41°C.
Warnings and peak temperatures
Mainland Portugal entered a yellow heat warning on Monday morning, the least severe alert level, as temperatures climbed sharply across the country. The warning, issued by the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), covers all districts except Faro and runs from 9am Monday until 6pm Tuesday. Maximum temperatures are forecast to reach 40°C in Santarém and Évora, while Lisbon will see 37°C and Porto a milder 31°C. Inland areas are expected to be even hotter: IPMA meteorologist Bruno Café told TSF that the Alentejo, Vale do Tejo and Vale do Douro could surpass 41°C. Coastal strips will record somewhat lower values.
- Santarém
- 40 °C
- Évora
- 40 °C
- Lisbon
- 37 °C
- Porto
- 31 °C
- Interior (Alentejo/Douro/Tejo)
- 41 °C
Fire danger across the country
Alongside the heat, fire danger has spiked to maximum or very high levels across almost all of mainland Portugal. Of the country's 278 municipalities, only about 40 along the coast face elevated or moderate risk, concentrated in the districts of Braga, Porto, Aveiro, Leiria, Lisbon, Setúbal and Faro. The IPMA expects the high fire danger to persist throughout the week, even as temperatures begin to ease.
Tropical nights and duration
Minimum temperatures are also set to rise sharply from Monday, especially in the eastern part of the mainland and the Sotavento Algarvio, bringing what are described as tropical nights, where thermometers do not drop below 20°C overnight. Despite the intensity, the hot spell is forecast to be short-lived.
We have a gradual drop on Wednesday and Thursday, and then we return to more normal temperatures for this time of year.
The meteorologist described the event as a "relatively short" episode of "two to three days", noting that while it is not a normal situation, summer is typically marked by periods of temperature variation.
- Temperatures rise across mainland Portugal on Sunday
- Yellow heat warning begins for all districts except Faro
- Peak heat: 40°C in Santarém and Évora, over 41°C possible inland
- Yellow warning expires; tropical nights continue in the east
- Gradual temperature drop begins on Wednesday
- Temperatures return to seasonal norms by Thursday
Cooling trend ahead
The yellow warning expires at 6pm on Tuesday, and a gradual cooling is expected to begin on Wednesday. By Thursday, temperatures should be back to seasonal norms. Until then, authorities are urging caution for activities sensitive to the hot and dry conditions, particularly in the vast areas under maximum fire risk.
