Tornado causes significant damage on Porto Santo island
An extreme weather event, confirmed by the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera or IPMA) as a tornado, struck Porto Santo on Friday evening, causing widespread property damage but no injuries. The storm resulted in dozens of incidents including fallen trees, power outages, and flooded buildings. Residents in the Madeira archipelago should remain cautious as yellow weather warnings (aviso amarelo) remain in place through Sunday.
IPMA (Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera) is Portugal's national authority for weather, ocean, and climate monitoring. It produces weather forecasts, issues severe weather warnings, monitors seismic activity, and provides marine and atmospheric data.
IPMA uses a four-level color-coded warning system: green (no risk), yellow (potential risk), orange (moderate-to-high risk), and red (extreme risk). These warnings cover conditions such as heavy rain, strong winds, extreme heat, cold snaps, rough seas, and snow.
Residents should monitor IPMA forecasts during storm season (typically October–March) and heatwaves (July–August). IPMA bulletins are used by civil protection authorities, transport operators, and local councils to make decisions about road closures, school suspensions, and evacuation orders.
Website: ipma.pt
