At the beginning of the week, the IPMA had already warned of the possibility of an increase in the danger of rural fires.

In maximum danger are the municipalities of Torre de Moncorvo, Freixo de Espada à Cinta, Mogadouro, Alfândega da Fé, Macedo de Cavaleiros, Vimioso and Miranda do Douro (Bragança), Loulé, São Brás de Alportel, Tavira (Faro), Gavião, Nisa (Portalegre) and Mação, Sardoal (Santarém), as well as the municipalities of Vila Velha de Ródão, Proença-a-Nova, Castelo Branco, Fundão, Penamacor, Covilhã, Belmonte (Castelo Branco), Sabugal, Gouveia, Fornos de Algodres (Guarda), Nelas, Mangualde, Penalva do Castelo and Tabuaço (Viseu).

The IPMA also placed several municipalities in all districts of mainland Portugal (18) at very high risk of rural fire.

According to IPMA calculations, the fire danger will remain high in some districts at least until Monday.

Hot weather

Because of the hot weather, IPMA placed the districts of Évora, Faro, Setúbal, Beja, Santarém, and Portalegre under yellow warning until 6pm today.

The IPMA predicts for today on the continent generally clear skies, wind from the eastern quadrant, sometimes strong in the highlands, and a rise in maximum temperatures on the North and Central coast.

According to the Institute, maximum temperatures will vary today between 29º, in Vila Real, Aveiro, and Porto, and 38º, in Évora and Santarém, while minimum temperatures will range between 10º degrees Celsius, in Bragança, and 21º, in Castelo Branco.

For Saturday, minimum temperatures are expected between 9º degrees, in Bragança, and 23º, in Lisbon, and maximum temperatures between 28º, in Vila Real and Aveiro, and 36º, in Santarém.