Heat Warnings Cover 11 Districts
Scorching heat is gripping mainland Portugal, prompting authorities to issue yellow weather alerts for 11 districts on Thursday and Friday. The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) warned of exceptionally high maximum temperatures sweeping across the country.
The yellow alert impacts Bragança, Viseu, Évora, Guarda, Vila Real, Setúbal, Santarém, Lisbon, Beja, Castelo Branco, and Portalegre. The warning remains active from 10:00 a.m. Thursday until 7:00 p.m. Friday.
Bright sun beating down on a dry, arid landscape during the summer heat.
A yellow alert is the lowest on a three-tier scale. It is issued whenever weather conditions pose a direct risk to vulnerable outdoor activities.
Severe Wildfire Danger Escalates
Rising temperatures are drying out vegetation rapidly, escalating the rural fire threat. On Wednesday, the IPMA placed 30 municipalities in the districts of Bragança, Guarda, Coimbra, Castelo Branco, Santarém, Portalegre, and Faro under a “very high” fire danger rating.
The fire hazard is expected to worsen by Thursday. Vulnerable regions include the interior North and Center, the Alentejo, and the Algarve.
Temperatures Nearing 110°F and Saharan Dust
Thursday will bring a noticeable temperature spike across most of the territory, with highs generally ranging between 93°F and 100°F (34-38°C). The interior regions south of the Serra da Estrela mountain range—including the Tagus Valley, Beira Baixa, and Alentejo—will face extreme heat, peaking between 104°F and 108°F (40-42°C).
Coastal areas will experience mild relief. Temperatures along the shoreline will hover between 77°F and 88°F (25-31°C), with the southern coast seeing the higher end of that spectrum.
Meteorologists also predict that atmospheric dust traveling from North Africa will likely blanket the southernmost regions on Thursday.
Skies will remain mostly clear, though morning clouds may linger in the North and Center. Minimum temperatures will range from a cool 55°F (13°C) in Viana do Castelo, Braga, and Guarda, up to 68°F (20°C) in Faro. Daytime highs will vary significantly, from a comfortable 75°F (24°C) in Aveiro to a blistering 99°F (37°C) in Évora.
National Security Brief: The Double Life of a Spy
In unrelated national news, returning intelligence officer Carvalhão Gil continues to deny allegations that he sold state secrets to Russian operatives. Gil claims he was unaware that the man he was detained with worked for the SVR, Russia’s foreign intelligence service, insisting he was merely a “business partner.”
However, recent police searches paint a drastically different picture. Investigators uncovered thousands of euros stashed in jackets, drawers, and envelopes at his residences.
Authorities also found dozens of highly classified documents scattered throughout several rooms, along with a revolver carefully concealed inside a bookcase.