Portugal news explained

The Lisboeta

Rain continues through Thursday, mainly North and Centre

Monday, 16 February 2026AI summary
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Rain continues through Thursday, mainly North and Centre
Photo: Público

Meteorologists say precipitation will persist across continental Portugal until Thursday, especially in the North and Centre, though intensity should ease before the weekend. Proteção Civil recorded recent storm-related incidents but forecasts indicate a sunnier weekend. Residents in flood-prone or saturated-ground areas should remain alert for local warnings and possible travel disruption, and follow municipal advisories. Those in the North and Centre should monitor local forecasts over the next 48–72 hours.

Update: Público and RTP: rain to continue until Thursday

Público and RTP report precipitation will continue through Thursday, mainly in the North and Centre but with declining frequency and intensity; meteorologist Cristina Simões said the coming weekend should be sunnier. Proteção Civil has recorded dozens of weather-related incidents but has not signalled a new nationwide emergency.

Update: Calamity lifted in 68 municipalities; Tagus alert lowered

Expresso reports the formal state of calamity has now ended in 68 municipalities after two extensions, though it warns that local disruptions — from impassable rural roads to isolated villages and transport interruptions — persist. Público, Observador and CNN Portugal add that the flood alert for the Tagus basin has been downgraded from red to yellow as river flows fall, but Proteção Civil says there are still completely flooded areas that require local response and monitoring.

Update: Coimbra ULS deactivates emergency plan

The Coimbra Local Health Unit announced it has deactivated the External Emergency Plan (Plano Externo de Emergência or PEE), which had been set at level 2 during the peak risk phase after flooding of the Mondego River. The change signals the immediate peak risk has passed locally, though municipal and health services continue local monitoring and response.

Context & Explainers

Civil Protection (Proteção Civil) is Portugal's national system for preventing, preparing for, and responding to disasters and emergencies — from wildfires and floods to earthquakes and storms.

The system is coordinated by the ANEPC (Autoridade Nacional de Emergência e Proteção Civil), which issues warnings, activates response plans, and coordinates firefighters, police, military, and municipal services. During major events, the ANEPC can activate the SIOPS (Sistema Integrado de Operações de Proteção e Socorro), a unified command structure for managing multi-agency responses.

Portugal's Civil Protection framework operates at three levels — national, district, and municipal — each maintaining its own emergency plans. The system has been under ongoing reform, with emergency associations pushing for clearer single-command structures to reduce confusion between responders during major incidents.

During weather emergencies, Proteção Civil issues safety advisories, may close roads and access routes, and coordinates rescue operations. Residents should follow official ANEPC guidance and call 112 for emergencies.

A flood alert level is a graded warning based on river levels, rainfall forecasts and expected impacts that tells authorities and the public how serious flooding risk is. In Portugal alerts commonly use a colour scale (yellow = be aware, orange = prepare, red = take action), and they guide actions like road closures, evacuations and transport disruptions.

A state of calamity (situação de calamidade) is the highest level of civil emergency Portugal can declare under its Civil Protection framework, short of a constitutional state of emergency. It is typically declared by the government in response to severe natural disasters such as major wildfires, floods, or storms.

A calamity declaration activates the National Civil Protection Emergency Plan, mobilizes additional resources, and grants authorities expanded powers to restrict movement, requisition private property, and deploy military assets. It also unlocks emergency financial support for affected populations and municipalities.

Portugal uses a three-tier alert system: alerta (alert), contingência (contingency), and calamidade (calamity), each with escalating levels of coordination and authority. The state of calamity requires coordination between the national government, ANEPC, local authorities, and emergency services.

The Mondego (Rio Mondego) is the longest river flowing entirely within Portugal, stretching approximately 258 km from the Serra da Estrela mountains to its mouth at Figueira da Foz on the Atlantic coast. It passes through Coimbra, one of Portugal's most important historical cities.

The Mondego basin is significant for agriculture, hydroelectric power, and water supply. However, the lower Mondego floodplain is highly vulnerable to flooding, and major flood events have caused extensive damage to Coimbra and surrounding communities. Flood management along the Mondego — including dam operations, levee maintenance, and urban planning — is a recurring policy issue.

The river's management involves coordination between APA (the Portuguese Environment Agency), local municipalities, and the national government, particularly during heavy rainfall events when dam discharge decisions become critical.

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