From Friday onwards, maximum temperatures on the continent will be above 30 degrees Celsius and could reach 37 degrees, around 5 to 8 degrees above the average for the month of September, according to IPMA.
This generalized rise in temperature, accompanied by a decrease in relative humidity, will contribute to an increase in the danger of rural fires, especially in the Algarve and inland regions, according to meteorologist Ângela Lourenço, from the Instituto Português do Mar e of Atmosphere (IPMA).
From Friday onwards, the weather on the continent will be influenced by an “intense anticyclonic ridge located over Western Europe, associated with the transport of a mass of hot and dry air, originating in North Africa”.
“This episode of hot weather in mainland Portugal will be felt mainly from the 29th and 30th [Friday and Saturday]. So far, maximum temperature values above the average close to or exceeding 30 degrees have been recorded in some regions of the country,” he said.
However, Ângela Lourenço highlighted, from Friday and Saturday onwards, there will be a significant increase, which will result in maximum temperatures, particularly in the southern region and the Tagus Valley, being able to reach values between 35 and 37 degrees.
“These values are above normal values for the month of September. Although absolute maximum temperature values comparable to episodes occurring during the hottest months are not expected, the predicted values correspond to anomalies of up to around 5 to 8 degrees above the usual average values for this time of year”, he highlighted.
With regard to minimum temperatures, Ângela Lourenço said that they will register an increase, with nights with values equal to or greater than 20 degrees possible, which the IPMA characterizes as tropical nights, in some places, especially on the coast of the Algarve region. .
“This hot weather situation is expected to persist until the beginning of the week, until the 03rd. From then on there is some uncertainty as to whether this persistence of high temperatures will continue or not. In any case, even if there is a drop in temperature, the values will remain above average for the time of year,” he said.
According to Ângela Lourenço, if the scenario of the influence of the anticyclonic crest persists and the episode of hot weather continues for more days, especially in the South region, a heat wave could occur.
Comments