Portugal mainland and Madeira placed under yellow heat alert amid soaring temperatures

On the day autumn officially began, the Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera placed nine districts of continental Portugal and the Madeira archipelago under a yellow heat alert due to unusually high temperatures. Forecasts show maximums of 39 °C in Évora, 38 °C in Santarém, 37 °C in Castelo Branco and Beja, and 36 °C in Lisbon and Portalegre. The agency set the alert to expire at 18:00 on Wednesday for Viseu, Santarém and Lisbon, and at 18:00 on Thursday for Bragança, Évora, Guarda, Vila Real, Castelo Branco and Portalegre.

Expected weather includes generally clear skies inland, some western coastal cloud, occasional moderate winds in highlands, and cooler temperatures along the northern and central coasts. Minimum temperatures will range from 14 °C in the north to 25 °C in Portalegre. In Madeira, the alert covers Thursday and Friday, with skies shifting from very cloudy to mostly clear, weak to moderate easterly winds, suspended dust in the afternoon, and highs between 22-29 °C in Funchal and 21-27 °C in Porto Santo.