Portugal faces high wildfire risk and heat as autumn begins

Portugal is experiencing a transition into autumn marked by unseasonably high temperatures and significant wildfire risks. The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) has placed over 70 municipalities in the North, Center, and Algarve regions under maximum fire danger.

Multiple districts, including Évora, Guarda, Castelo Branco, Portalegre, and Santarém, are under yellow alerts for heat, with maximum temperatures expected to reach between 31°C and 39°C. In Madeira, authorities have issued warnings for hot and dry weather, advising against forest activities that could spark fires.

While the autumn equinox occurred on September 23, summer-like conditions persist across much of the mainland. In the Azores, weather patterns are expected to shift toward instability, with forecasts predicting rain and strong winds in the coming days. A cooling trend and the return of precipitation are anticipated to begin late in the week, particularly in the North and Center of the country.