The Portuguese weather service (IPMA) has updated its temperature forecasts for the next few days and predicts 35°C in Santarém and Alcácer do Sal for Friday with an Algarve rise to 30ºC on Saturday.
"These weather conditions, coupled with extreme or severe drought and tinder dry forests, significantly increase the risk of forest fires starting and spreading, with a high number of Portugal’s council areas on the ‘high risk’ alert,” states the weather service. (here)
The IPMA refers to this burst of heat and sunshine in late October, a heat wave, with predictions of 33°C in Leiria, and 31°C in Lisbon, Évora and Setúbal.
The IPMA warns that this heat, plus low humidity, dramatically increases the risk of new forest fires,
"As a result of these very high temperatures, increasing wind speed is expected from Friday 27th, predominating from the east with very low values of relative humidity, below 20% in most of the country."
The weather can be explained by the persistence of an anticyclone which will be with us for at least another week, ensuring little change except for a gradual increase in temperatures from Thursday to Saturday and a "warm and very dry" end to October.
The Algarve will be milder that the north, with slightly cloudy days to the weekend and a high of 30ºC on Saturday, falling to 25/26°C for the rest of next week.
The chance of rain in the Algarve in the next five days is 0%, with 2% chance on October 31st.
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WARNING TO THE POPULATION REGARDING HOT AND DRY WEATHER AND RURAL FIRE HAZARD ISSUED AT 17:00 HRS ON 25TH OCTOBER – PLEASE SHARE
1. SITUATION
The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere forecasts for the next days dry weather, with very low relative humidity, and strong winds.
2. EXPECTABLE EFFECTS
The situation is very favourable for the occurrence of rural fires that, if they happen, may spread and grow quickly, particularly as there is still a great amount of combustible woody material accumulated in the forest areas.
3. PREVENTIVE MEASURES
The risk described requires greater caution on the part of everyone, in particular adapting behaviour in the use and enjoyment of the countryside, so as to avoid sparks that could lead to large rural fires.
We reiterate that it is PROHIBITED to make a fire near forest areas, and it is imperative that everyone takes action to avoid starting a fire given the risk that exists in these areas over the next few days.
Remember, the following are banned:
• Burning of fires
• Use flaring and combustion equipment;
• Burning cut and mowed bushes or any type of leftover debris;
• Launch balloons with lit wick or any other type of rocket;
• Smoking of any kind in the forest spaces or surrounding pathways;
• Fumigation of apiaries with equipment without sparking devices.
Only the strict observance of these principles can we guarantee the effective protection of our forest against fires.
