A tornado hit Faro docks on Wednesday afternoon, overturning boats and caving in car windows.The Captain of Faro Port, whose own building lost a door, said the tornado came in from the Ria Formosa and destroyed everything in its path.
The phenomenon continued into the city, uprooting trees, tearing off branches and destroying a cafe’s decking and smashing its windows.
At Praia da Rocha, Portimão, the Nosolo Aqua bar was destroyed by high seas which swept up the beach, tearing into concessions and swamping the marina. Authorities said that six uprooted trees has caused disruption to various of Portimão's roads
There has been flooding in Ferragudo and buildings at beaches in Albufeira and Alvor have suffered damage. In cities and towns along the south coast, flying debris has endangered the public but there have been no notifications of death or injury. Access to Quarteira beach was prohibited.
On Faro island, access was prohibited as emergency equipment was used to clear hundreds of tonnes of sand that had been swept onto the roads.
On cliffs and bays along the Algarve coastline, people risked their lives while watching heaving seas whipped into a frenzy by winds gusting to 80kmph, but averaging 40kmph, by the IPMA weather service which predicts more of the same for the next two days, at least.
“Rain, sometimes strong and hail. Favourable conditions for thunderstorms. Wind and strong high seas. Mostly cloudy, especially in the South. For the south coast, waves from the southwest reaching 5 to 6 metres, decreasing to 4 metres from the end of the afternoon.”
Meanwhile, for the public who have a yearning for all things maritime, the authorities advise that "until the end of the week, people abstain from walking along the coast and on the beaches, as well as from any beach activities in areas by the sea, and that people are careful to not expose themselves to unnecessary risk."
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