Portugal is bracing for a severe heatwave with temperatures expected to reach 47ºC in some areas, prompting the Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera or IPMA) to issue red alerts for Lisbon, Setúbal, Leiria, and Coimbra. The government has warned of high mortality risks and extreme fire danger, urging citizens to follow all safety instructions. Municipalities are now implementing emergency measures to protect vulnerable populations as the country faces these exceptional weather conditions.
Update: Red alerts expand as heatwave intensifies across Portugal
The red heat warning will extend to Santarém, Portalegre, Évora, and Beja starting Thursday, with further regions including Porto, Braga, and Aveiro joining the alert list on Friday. Minister of Internal Administration Luís Neves described the conditions as a potential powder keg, urging extreme caution as high temperatures and strong winds are expected to persist until at least July 15. Meanwhile, the Lisbon City Council has prepared two pavilions, Casal Vistoso and Manuel Castelo Branco, to serve as emergency shelters for vulnerable residents.
