Temperatures will begin to drop early next week with an easing of the record-breaking heat from Tuesday onwards.
The maximum and minimum temperatures will start their decline on Monday after Saturday’s average high of 32.4°C beating an 18-year record.
The average maximum temperature, 41.6°C, and the average minimum temperature of 23.2°C degrees, also were the highest for 18 years.
The highest temperature was 46.8°C, recorded in Alvega, Abrantes.
The IPMA’s Joana Sanches is bringing relief to a grateful nation, saying that a further drop in maximum temperature is expected on Tuesday, especially in the interior regions where the fall will be between 8 and 10°C and there will be the first day without a weather warning after the recent heat wave.
In recent days Portugal has experienced very high temperatures, rising sharply since August 1st, prompting the IPMA to issue Red Alerts in 11 of Portugal’s 18 mainland districts.
During these record busting days, new highs were recorded at several meteorological stations on Saturday, with temperatures 45°C in 16 of the 96 measurement stations in mainland Portugal.
The highest temperature recorded on Saturday were 46.8°C in Alvega followed by Santarém (46.3°C), Alcácer do Sal (46.2°C), Coruche and Alvalade do Sado (46.1°C), Pegões (46.0°C), Neves Corvo (45.8°C), Setúbal (45°C), Évora and Tomar (45.4°C), Reguengos and Amareleja (45.3°C), Avis, Viana do Alentejo and Portel (45.2°C) and Mora (45.1°).
The Algarve escaped the most ferocious heat, with part of the region even experiencing a weird rain and hail shower on Saturday evening. Temperatures over the next few days will reduce from the mid-30s to the high 20s - low30s.
There is a chance of a thunderstorm this evening in Portalegre, Évora, Beja and Faro.
