Latest news and stories about severe weather in Madeira, Portugal for expats and residents.
Severe weather conditions have disrupted air traffic at the Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport in Madeira, leading to multiple flight cancellations and diversions. Meanwhile, a report by AirAdvisor identified the Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport in Porto as having one of the highest rates of prolonged delays in Europe during 2025, with an average wait time exceeding 100 minutes for delayed flights.
The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera or IPMA) has warned that Storm Therese (Depressão Therese) will affect the mainland and Madeira through Saturday. Residents should expect intense rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds, with snow possible at high altitudes in Madeira. Sea conditions will also worsen, particularly along the southern coast and in mountainous regions. Residents should check local weather updates before traveling.
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
Severe weather conditions have prompted yellow rain warnings across mainland Portugal and orange alerts for wind and rough seas in Madeira, leading to the cancellation of the Lobo Marinho ferry service. Additionally, the DGS has issued an air quality warning due to North African dust.
Madeira Island is under a yellow weather warning for strong winds, causing significant flight disruptions and diversions at Madeira Airport.
Storm Therese has caused 157 incidents in Madeira, including flooding and structural damage, resulting in one person being left homeless and the closure of a school in Porto Santo.
The President of the Republic is monitoring the aftermath of severe weather in Madeira, where a tornado in Porto Santo caused significant property damage and flooding, leading to nearly 100 emergency incidents across the archipelago.
The Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) has issued a yellow warning for the Madeira archipelago today due to strong winds. The advisory signals elevated risk to public safety and potential disruption to transport and maritime operations; residents and visitors are advised to follow local guidance and monitor updates from authorities. The situation warrants vigilance but does not currently indicate the most severe weather categories.
The IPMA forecasts deteriorating weather conditions in Madeira, with rain that will be heavy at times starting Saturday. A yellow warning has been issued for early Sunday morning.
According to IPMA forecasts, rain is expected to be “generally weak until Friday, especially on the northern slopes and in the highlands of Madeira”.
The fire broke out in a hard-to-reach area in the parish of Canhas, in Ponta do Sol.
Due to hot weather, the Madeira archipelago will be under an orange warning until 6:00 PM this Friday. Temperatures will range between 24 and 30 degrees Celsius in Funchal.
The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) has upgraded the hot weather warning for the Madeira archipelago to orange, which will remain in effect until 18:00 on Thursday.
The yellow warning remains in effect for the mountainous regions of Madeira.
Heat and easterly winds will affect Madeira on Thursday and Friday. Civil Protection recommends avoiding sparks in forest areas and direct exposure to the sun.
The regional authority has issued recommendations for the hottest hours of the day.
Madeira and nine districts in mainland Portugal have been placed under a yellow alert due to adverse weather conditions.
When inhaled, they easily enter the respiratory system, posing negative consequences for human health.
The south coast and mountainous regions of Madeira are under an orange warning due to heat. The orange warning is issued whenever there is a “meteorological situation of moderate to high risk”.
Temperatures in Funchal will range between 24 and 30 degrees Celsius and in Porto Santo between 22 and 27 degrees.
Temperatures will remain high over the coming days, with the lowest maximum temperature this Monday reaching 28 degrees.
A yellow warning is the least severe on a three-level scale and is issued whenever there is a risk situation for certain activities dependent on weather conditions.
The Regional Civil Protection Service reminds that bonfires and burning of vegetation are prohibited in the autonomous region until October 31st.
The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) has placed the south coast of Madeira under a yellow warning for hot weather between 09:00 today and 18:00 on Monday.
Mountainous regions and the island of Porto Santo will also be placed under a yellow warning on Sunday and until Monday.
The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) maintained a hot weather warning today for the island of Porto Santo and the south coast of Madeira.
The institute justified the yellow warning due to the “persistence of high maximum temperature values”.
The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere has placed the south coast of Madeira and the island of Porto Santo under a yellow warning due to hot weather.
The warning will be in effect starting from 09:00 on Monday.
The warning predicts a gradual worsening of weather conditions over the coming days. The alert, issued between today and Wednesday, is based on IPMA forecasts.
The Civil Protection Service recommends that the population adopt prevention and precautionary measures.
Flames consumed a vast area of brush and forest and put some homes at risk, but there are no reports of casualties or damage.
