A gradual rise in Portugal's mainland temperatures will continue until June 30 at a rate of two to four degrees per day, starting on Friday until a scorching Tuesday next week.
Temperatures will click up by an average of 2.4 degrees per day with up to 44 degrees Celsius now expected in the Alentejo. (44 degrees Celsius is 111F - in old money.)
The weather girl says "The most significant amounts of that increase will be in the interior regions, especially in the Alentejo which will register the highest values, above 40 degrees Celsius."
According to the weather bureau "for Saturday we forecast that Beja and Évora already will be close to 40 degrees Celsius, and some of the Alentejo districts may register values above 40 degrees Celsius."
Next Tuesday’s high will be sustained for a few days until a drop next as weekend approaches.
The Algarve should average 32 to 33 degrees Celsius in coastal areas next Tuesday with other predictions suggesting that up to 40 degrees Celsius can be expected if you are in an inland location in the Algarve.
The baking Alentejo temperatures shows why many nothern Europeans prefer living in the south as compared to the Alentejo plain which soon will be baking in 40 degrees Celsius heat - the Algarve sea breezes help to keep temperatures bearable.
The weather service also warns that overnight temperatures will not drop below 20 degrees Celsius in the Algarve as elsewhere, classifying these rather romantically as 'tropical nights.'
