140 Portuguese municipalities under maximum wildfire alert as hot weather and thunderstorm risk grip the country
Roughly 140 municipalities across 12 districts are at maximum rural fire risk as temperatures reach 37°C, with civil protection warning of heightened danger through Sunday.
Fire danger across mainland Portugal
On Saturday, 13 June, approximately 140 municipalities (concelhos) across 12 districts of mainland Portugal were placed under maximum rural fire alert by the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA). The maximum-risk councils are spread across Vila Real, Bragança, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Leiria, Santarém, Lisboa, Portalegre, Setúbal, Évora, Beja and Faro. Many other municipalities in additional districts, including Viana do Castelo, Braga, Aveiro, Guarda and Viseu, are classified as very high or high danger. The danger level will stay at maximum and very high at least until Sunday due to the hot weather.
The worsening weather conditions are expected to increase fire danger, with conditions favourable for the possible occurrence and spread of rural fires, as well as increased difficulty of suppression actions, especially in inland northern, central and Algarve regions.
- 140 municipalities in 12 districts reach maximum rural fire danger
- Maximum and very high danger expected to persist
Temperatures and weather forecast
Mainland Portugal recorded high temperatures on Saturday, with maximum values ranging from 23 degrees Celsius in Sagres (Algarve) to 37 degrees in Évora (Alentejo). The IPMA forecast partly cloudy skies, with increasing cloudiness in the northern and central interior during the afternoon, along with conditions favourable for showers and thunderstorms.
- Sagres
- 23 °C
- Évora
- 37 °C
Bans and preventive measures
The National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) issued a set of prohibitions to reduce fire risk. Extensive burning and pile burning are forbidden. Using fire for cooking in rural areas is banned, except outside critical zones and in authorized locations. The use of brush cutters, scrub cutters and shredders is prohibited, and farmers are advised to avoid disc harrows.
Health guidance during hot spell
ANEPC also urged the public to take precautions against the heat, with special attention to chronic patients, children and the elderly. Recommendations include drinking at least eight glasses of water per day (1.5 litres), applying sunscreen with an SPF above 30 every two hours, wearing hats and light, loose, fresh clothing, and opting for light meals.
