The celebrations scheduled for New Year’s Eve in Porto, Gaia and Matosinhos “will be canceled due to bad weather”, informs in a statement the Câmara da Invicta.
“Civil Protection forecasts for the three municipalities on the Atlantic Front point to a worsening of weather conditions, with heavy rain, wind and sea turmoil, precisely during the night of this Saturday, December 31, and the early hours of January 1” , reads in the statement.
In this sense, and “following the recommendations of the Civil Protection and the warnings to the population”, Rui Moreira, Eduardo Vítor Rodrigues and Luísa Salgueiro cancel the musical festivities, held abroad, and pyrotechnics scheduled for New Year’s Eve, in their respective cities.
In view of the weather forecasts, the municipal Civil Protection services of Porto, Gaia and Matosinhos warn of “a worsening of weather conditions from tonight and until January 1, 2023, namely, wind, precipitation and sea agitation”.
Citing the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA), the Porto municipality warns that “gusts of up to 80 km/h are expected between 9 pm today and 9 am tomorrow, December 31st”.
In addition, “persistent and sometimes heavy rain is also expected for December 31 and January 1, 2023, Saturday and Sunday respectively – Yellow and Orange Warnings. The most critical period, which corresponds to the duration of the orange warning, is scheduled between 00:00 and 12:00 on January 1st, Sunday”.
Advice to the population
The Porto City Council therefore advises the population to adopt some precautions and behaviors that “allow to minimize the existing risk”. Check out the list of eight recommendations:
- The adoption of defensive driving, reducing speed and taking special care with the possible formation of water sheets on the roads or with the reduction of visibility and the non-crossing of flooded areas, in order to prevent the dragging of people or vehicles into potholes on the floor or open sewers;
- Clearing of stormwater drainage systems, such as manholes, downspouts and gutters, and removal of aggregates and other objects that can be dragged or create obstacles to the free flow of water;
- Respect for the security perimeters established along the coastline and access to the jetties, in Porto, Gaia and Matosinhos, or others that may be necessary to implement;
- The traditional sea baths on the 1st of January are not recommended;
- Avoid proximity to small or large water lines;
- Special attention when circulating, staying and parking next to wooded areas, due to the possibility of falling branches or trees, due to strong wind and strong soil saturation;
- The adequate fixation of loose structures, such as scaffolding, billboards, bekaerts, advertising tarps or other suspended structures that need to be reinforced or removed;
- Attention to information from the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere and indications, from Civil Protection and Security Forces.
