The IPMA has also placed several municipalities in all districts of mainland Portugal at very high and high risk of rural fire.

The fire hazard, determined by the IPMA, has five levels, ranging from reduced to maximum.

The calculations are obtained from the air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and amount of precipitation in the last 24 hours.

Soaring temperatures

The forecast points to a rise in temperature values, especially the maximum, with values ​​above 35 degrees Celsius expected in most of the country, reaching values ​​above 40 degrees in the interior, especially in the southern region and in the Tagus and Douro valleys.

In view of weather forecasts, the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority has placed six districts of mainland Portugal on orange alert, the second highest, as of today due to the high risk of forest fires.

According to ANEPC, Viseu, Vila Real, Bragança, Guarda, Castelo Branco and Santarém are the six districts on orange alert, while the remaining 12 will be on yellow alert, the third highest.

State of alert

On Thursday, the Ministry of Internal Administration (MAI) declared a situation of alert due to the “significant increase in the risk of rural fire”. The alert started at 00:00 today and will be in effect until July 15.

“Given the weather forecasts for the next few days, which point to a significant worsening of the risk of rural fire, the ministers of National Defence, Internal Administration, Health, Environment and Climate Action and Agriculture and Food today determined the declaration of the alert situation throughout the continent”, said a statement from the Ministry of Internal Administration (MAI).