Wind, sea agitation and snowfall: Civil Protection issues warning to the population

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The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere predicts, for the next 48 hours, a change in the weather, with the wind blowing strong, with gusts of up to 95km/h, with sea agitation and snowfall, above 700 /900 meters. Therefore, there are precautions to be taken and behaviors to be avoided.

The weekend will be gray. The rain returned this Friday and is not going away anytime soon. O Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) wind, sea disturbances and snowfall are expected for the next 48 hours and Civil Protection has already issued a warning with recommendations for the population.

The wind will blow, sometimes strong, “more intense on the west coast and in the highlands, with gusts of up to 95km/h”, IPMA also foresees “strong sea disturbances on the west coast”, “snowfall in the northern and central highlands above 1400/1600 meters during the night and early morning of the 2nd, falling to 700/900 meters from the afternoon”.

In view of these forecasts, Civil Protection highlights that there are risks that the population must be aware of, such as:

• slippery road surface due to the possibility of ice, frost and snow accumulation;
• possibility of snowfall in areas and at altitudes where it does not normally occur;
• possible accidents on the coast due to strong sea waves;
• possibility of falling branches or trees, as well as affecting infrastructure associated with communications and energy networks;
• thermal discomfort in the population due to the sharp drop in minimum temperature.

There are, therefore, behaviors and recommendations to adopt so that, explains ANEPCthe possible impact of these effects is minimized”, such as:

• pay attention to the most vulnerable groups (children in the first years of life, chronically ill people, elderly people or people in conditions of greater isolation, workers who work outdoors and homeless people);
• ensure adequate fixation of loose structures, namely scaffolding, billboards and other suspended structures;
• take special care when traveling and staying near wooded areas, paying attention to the possibility of falling branches and trees, due to stronger wind;
• take special care when traveling near the coastline and riverside areas that are historically more vulnerable to coastal overtopping, avoiding movement and staying in these locations;
• do not practice activities related to the sea, namely sport fishing, water sports and walks by the sea, also avoiding parking vehicles very close to the seafront;
• adopt defensive driving, reducing speed and paying special attention to possible accumulation of snow and/or formation of ice or frost on roadways;
• Avoid driving on roads affected by snow accumulation and when this is not possible, adopt the following measures:
  • checking the condition of the tires and their pressures;
  • transport and placement of snow chains on vehicles;
  • ensure fuel supply at levels that allow alternative routes to be taken or the vehicle to remain in operation for long periods of time, in the event of stranding on affected roads;
  • in electric vehicles, the battery charge must be checked and the existence of charging stations on your route must be analyzed;
  • ensure that vehicle heating systems are in good working order;
  • provide adequate food in quantity and characteristics, as well as
  medications, according to the number and type of vehicle occupants.
• roads affected by snow accumulation, avoid traveling with children, the elderly or people with special needs;
• avoid driving on those roads with heavy vehicles, particularly articulated vehicles, vehicles with trailers and rear-wheel drive vehicles;
• restrict the movements of vehicles and people on foot as much as possible in areas potentially affected by snowfall;
• pay attention to meteorological information and indications from Civil Protection and Security Forces.