Winds of 100km/h, heavy rain and giant waves: Civil Protection warns of worsening weather in the next few hours

Authorities expect precipitation, strong winds, rough seas and snowfall

This Monday, the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) warned the population of preventive measures due to the worsening of weather conditions over the next 72 hours, with precipitation and strong winds, sea disturbances and snowfall.

Based on forecasts from the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IMPA), Civil Protection warns of the possibility, from the end of this Monday afternoon, of wind, sometimes strong, in the highlands and on the west coast with gusts of up to 80 kilometers per hour (km/h).

For Tuesday, wind is forecast with gusts of 100 km/h in the highlands, especially in Serra da Estrela and for Wednesday wind prevailing from the southwest, with gusts of up to 85 km/h starting in the afternoon in the north and central regions, which may exceed 90 km/h in the highlands.

For Wednesday, the IPMA predicts rain, sometimes heavy and persistent, which could be hail and accompanied by thunderstorms.

The IPMA predicts strong sea agitation with waves from the northwest on the west coast, worsening during Tuesday afternoon, reaching six to seven meters north of Cabo Carvoeiro (maximum height of 12 meters).

For the highlands, especially in the north and center, forecasts point to snowfall for Tuesday, gradually dropping to 600/800 meters, and snowfall may also occur in the São Mamede and Monchique mountains. , at dawn and in the morning.

After a weekend with heat and dust from North Africa, with now a forecast of precipitation and strong wind, sea agitation and snowfall, ANEPC warns of slippery road surfaces due to the possibility of accumulation of ice, snow and formation of water tables and the possibility of snowfall in areas and at altitudes where it does not normally occur.

ANEPC also warns of drainage difficulties in urban systems, flooding in historically more vulnerable locations, possible accidents on the coast due to strong sea agitation, flooding in urban areas, the possibility of falling branches or trees, as well as the impact of infrastructures associated with communications and energy networks, damage to mounted or suspended structures and thermal discomfort in the population.

Civil Protection recalls that the impact of these effects can be minimized, mainly through the adoption of appropriate behaviors, therefore, and particularly in historically more vulnerable areas, the adoption of the main preventive measures for these situations is recommended.