Olivia’s depression leaves the Azores on alert. And on the Continent, where will it rain in the next few days? Here’s Meteored’s forecast

A Easter Week 2024 It’s already there and will stay for the climatic history of mainland Portugal as one of the wettest since there are records. The rain that fell in large areas of the South Region, especially in Algarve (Barlavento basin rose from 12.5% ​​in February to 20.8% in March)contributed significantly to the growth of water reserves, which – at least temporarily – removed the “spectre” of drought and water restrictions in the summer in these areas.

More rain is expected this week, although it is no longer widespread. It will focus mainly on the northwest of mainland Portugal – with a particular focus on Minho – thanks to the visit from several fronts, despite covering other areas of the North and Center.

The first of the fronts appeared this Tuesday (2) leaving the sky quite cloudy and with periods of intense and abundant rain in Minho (Viana do Castelo and Braga) and Douro Litoral (Porto). It also spread to the south and east, with a weaker and more dispersed character, distributing precipitation to other areas of the North, Center, Metropolitan Area of ​​Lisbon and Alentejo, such as: districts of Vila Real, Bragança, Guarda, Viseu, Aveiro, Coimbra, Leiria, Santarém, Castelo Branco, Lisbon and Portalegre.

This Tuesday – April 2nd – has been a quite windy day in the areas swept aheadsomething that started late in the morning (11:00) and will last until approximately 8:00 pm. In its harshest period, the wind from the southern quadrant blew strong with gusts between 70 and 90 km/h throughout the district of Viana do Castelo (>85 km/h) and mountainous areas of the districts of Braga and Vila Real (75-85 km /H). In the districts of Porto and Aveiro, mountainous areas of Viseu and Vila Real (70-75 km/h).

Further south, from the coast (AM de LisbonWest and Region of Leiria) to the mountainous areas that run through the Montejunto-Cordilheira Central mountain system (Leiria, Coimbra, Açor, Lousã, Estrela) and Beira Alta gusts varied between 55 and 75 km/h. A slight rise in temperatures is expected, particularly the minimum temperatures.

On Wednesday (3) the rain will tend to gradually decrease. It will only persist in Minho and Douro Litoral, appearing in the form of weak and scattered showers in other areas of the North and Center Regions, with the presence of some morning fog. The sky will generally be partly cloudy, but with clear spells – especially in the afternoon – more likely and frequent south of the Tagus. Temperatures will register another small rise. The wind will blow weakly from the Southwest, occasionally moderate in the North and Center.

Heat intensifies from Thursday

High pressure will prevail on Thursday (4), with atmospheric stability across the country. The day will be generally cloudy, but with a tendency for good periods of sunshine in large areas of Alentejo and in Algarve. On this day we will feel a large thermal amplitude in the geography of the Continent thanks to the intensification of daytime heat (rise in maximum temperatures) and marked nighttime cooling (decrease in minimum temperatures).

Weather in Portugal this week: April starts with a sudden change and abundant rain is expected in these regions

On Friday (5) Precipitation will continue to be largely absent from our territory, except in Minho and Douro Coast where you can demonstrate locally heavy showers occasionally accompanied by thunder and hail. The rest of the country will experience sunny or slightly cloudy weather, but, thanks to a intrusion of Saharan dustO sky will present a dull or whitish appearancewith darker tones – brownish/orange – in areas where there is a higher concentration of particles.

It is possible that an episode of Saharan dust intrusion will begin next Friday (5). On that day, the dust would have more impact in the southernmost regions, but with a tendency to gradually increase in latitude. Only areas close to the sea and located on the North and Central Coast would “escape” the dust.

Still on Friday (5), a sudden and sharp rise in temperatures is expected, with the intensification of heat resulting in maximum values ​​between 20 and 25 ºC in almost all district capitals on the Continent., with the exception of Guarda (18 ºC). The wind will generally blow weak to moderate from the southern quadrant, but sometimes strong in areas of the coast and highlands.

Rain, sometimes mud, and falling temperatures over the weekend

Rain is expected for the weekend in some regions of mainland Portugal. It will be more likely, frequent and punctually strong and abundant in Minho and Douro Coast due to the gradual approach of a atlantic front. Showers are also expected in the interior North and Center, and in the district of Coimbra. The possibility of mud rain is not excluded at certain times on Saturday (6) in any of the aforementioned regions.

On Sunday (7), the front – which is quite stationary – will continue its slow advance eastward in the early hours of the daydistributing more rain until around the beginning of the afternoon in the North, Center and South interior regions, although the situation is not yet well defined.

Weather in Portugal in April: will it be “a thousand waters”? Will it be cold or hot? Here’s Meteored’s latest forecast

Saturday (6) will continue with hot weather in much of the country, except in Minho where the first impact of the arrival of a cold air mass.

It is for Sunday – April 7th – that a widespread and sharp drop in temperatures is expected. One of those thermal ups and downs so typical of the spring season will then occur, but for now, nothing suggests that it will become excessively cold.

Depression Olivia puts the Azores on alert

The most recent major atlantic depression of the 2023/2024 season was named Olivia for the IPMA (Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere), one of the organizations that belongs to the Meteorological Services of Southwest Europe. Olivia Depression is the 15th major depression of this season and your associated frontal system will begin to condition the weather in the Azores Archipelago from tomorrow – Wednesday 3 April.

Located approximately 190 km northwest (NW) of the island of Corvo, with a minimum central pressure of 984 hPa, it is expected that Olivia causes a significant increase in wind strength, with gusts of up to 110 km/h in the Western Group and up to 100 km/h in the Central Group.

This meteorological panorama should also result in occasionally heavy rain, which is more likely and frequent in the Western Groups. (Crow, Flowers) and Central (Faial, Pico, São Jorge, Graciosa and Terceira). The sea storm will be harsh, with significant swell heights expected. 7 meters in the Western Group and 6 meters in the Central Group.

With regards to the Eastern Group (São Miguel and Santa Maria) there will be a increased wind intensity, with gusts of up to 80 km/h, some periods of rain and waves of up to 5 meters of significant height.