Portugal braces for heat wave with temperatures hitting 40 °C

The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) warned that a sharp temperature rise will begin on Sunday, 26 July, with inland districts expected to reach 40 °C on Monday, 27 July. The most affected districts include Beja, Bragança, Castelo Branco, Évora, Portalegre, Santarém and Vila Real, where maxima will exceed 35 °C and may hit 40 °C.

A separate forecast predicts the hottest day of the week on Wednesday, with interior and southern regions, including the Alentejo and the Algarve, seeing temperatures between 35 °C and 36 °C. Coastal areas will stay cooler due to Atlantic breezes.

While much of Europe is expected to experience temperatures up to 45 °C, Portugal is likely to avoid the most extreme levels. The Azores and Madeira archipelagos, however, are forecast to receive rain through the weekend and to experience below‑average temperatures, with anomalies up to 4 °C below normal in parts of the islands.

Overall, the heat wave will affect large parts of mainland Portugal, with a brief period of cloud cover and possible rain in the north and centre later in the week.