Algarve freezes with snow in several areas

The Algarve’s councils have taken measures to ensure no one freezes to death in the coldest few days for over a decade.

In Faro and Olhão, teams have been handing out warm clothing and food, while Faro council has arranged overnight shelter for the homeless where they can get hot food.

In Olhão, "food will be distributed as soup, sandwiches and hot drinks, as well as blankets and warm clothes".

The cold weather support will go on in many council areas for as long as the cold spell continues.

There has been snow in places other than the peaks above Monchique ,with Vila Real de Santo António experiencing the strange white stuff for the first time since February 1954.

Snow fell on Thursday in many of the Algarve’s council areas, though not in any great quantity, with real snowfalls confined to the frozen central and northern regions.

The last snowfall recorded in the Algarve was last February at Alto da Fóia, Monchique. Before that, snow fell on Monchique in 2010 and across the Algarve in January 2006 with Loulé, São Brás de Alportel, Olhão and Tavira affected.

This year, snow was reported in the eastern areas of Bordeira, São Brás de Alpotel, Manta Rota, and Tavira.

The coldest part of Portugal yesterday was Guarda where the temperature dropped to -7 degrees Centigrade.

The bitter cold will continue throughout Friday until Saturday lunchtime when the mass of cold, dry Arctic air gives way to cloudy skies and rising temperatures into the low double figures.

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