Heavy Rain Warning: Seven Districts in Portugal Brace for Stormy Weather

Heavy Rain Alert for Seven Districts

Seven districts on the mainland are under a yellow warning due to expected periods of persistent and sometimes heavy rain on Wednesday and Thursday, according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA).

The affected districts include Viseu, Porto, Vila Real, Viana do Castelo, Aveiro, Coimbra, and Braga, which will be under the warning from 09:00 Wednesday until 00:00 Thursday.

The yellow warning is issued by the IPMA whenever there is a risk situation for specific activities dependent on weather conditions.

In a statement released on Sunday, the IPMA explained that the situation is due to the transport of a tropical air mass with a very high water vapor content, influenced by a high-pressure system located south of the Azores and a depression area in the North Atlantic.

Starting from Tuesday, persistent rain is expected in the North and Center regions, with heavy rain particularly on Wednesday and Thursday, especially along the coast north of Cabo Mondego and in mountainous areas.

In the southern region, precipitation will generally be weak, although it is unlikely in the interior of Baixo Alentejo and Algarve's sotavento, with potential moderate rain temporarily during Thursday morning.

According to the IPMA, total accumulated rainfall over the three days could reach 100 to 200 mm in Minho, Douro Litoral, and the mountains of Viseu, Aveiro, and Coimbra districts, while the remaining coastal areas north of Cabo Mondego may see 50 to 100 mm, with most rainfall concentrated between the mornings of Wednesday and Thursday.

Regarding wind conditions, the IPMA forecasts an increase in intensity between the afternoon of Wednesday and the early morning of Thursday, with strong southwest winds gusting up to 70 km/h in the North and Center coasts, and up to 90 km/h in the highlands, particularly in the North and Center regions.