Severe Weather Alerts Issued for Madeira: What You Need to Know

Severe Weather Warnings for Madeira

The Port Captaincy of Funchal has issued urgent warnings regarding bad weather and strong winds affecting the Madeira archipelago. These alerts are in effect until 6 PM on Thursday, December 26 and include several safety recommendations for both the maritime community and the general public.

Weather Conditions

According to the Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), the overall weather conditions for the coastline are expected to be cool to very cool, with periods of strong winds. Visibility will be described as "good to moderate".

Wave Heights

Waves may reach heights of up to 2.5 meters, posing additional risks to those at sea and along the coast.

Safety Recommendations

The Port Captaincy has urged the maritime community and the public to take the following precautions:

• Strengthen mooring and maintain close monitoring of anchored and moored vessels.
• Avoid walking near the sea or in areas exposed to maritime agitation, such as port breakwaters, cliffs, or beaches, to prevent being caught off guard by waves.
• Refrain from recreational fishing, especially near cliffs and areas frequently impacted by wave action, as the sea can easily reach seemingly safe zones under these conditions.

Additional Warnings

Following information from IPMA, the Port Captain of Funchal has also issued another warning of bad weather, categorized as signal 6, which corresponds to winds of force 7 (51 to 62 km/h) from any direction.

The captain has advised boat owners and operators to take the necessary precautions to ensure their safety.