Madeira faces orange weather warnings for heavy rain and storms

The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) has issued orange weather warnings for the southern coast and mountainous regions of Madeira due to forecasts of heavy rain showers and thunderstorms. The warning, which was updated on Sunday afternoon, is expected to remain in effect until 17:00 local time.

In addition to the precipitation risks, the Funchal Port Authority has issued advisories regarding maritime conditions. The north coast is expected to experience waves between 1.5 and 2.5 meters, while the south coast will see waves between 1 and 1.5 meters. Visibility may fluctuate between moderate and poor throughout the morning.

Authorities recommend that the maritime community and the general public take precautions, such as reinforcing vessel moorings, avoiding walks near cliffs or exposed coastal areas, and refraining from recreational fishing near cliffs where waves can unexpectedly reach seemingly safe zones.