Portugal faces heavy rain and wind alerts as weather shifts

Portugal is facing a significant shift in weather patterns as a period of heat and dry conditions gives way to rain, wind, and falling temperatures. The Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera (IPMA) has issued yellow alerts for several districts, including Beja, Bragança, Castelo Branco, Évora, Faro, Guarda, and Portalegio, due to the risk of thunderstorms, heavy rain, hail, and wind gusts reaching up to 90 km/h.

While an explosive cyclogenesis is occurring in the North Atlantic near Ireland, its effects on mainland Portugal are expected to be indirect. A cold front is predicted to pass through the country between Tuesday and Wednesday, bringing more intense rainfall to the North and Center regions. Additionally, dust from North Africa may affect visibility and air quality.

In the Azores, yellow alerts have been issued for multiple island groups due to heavy rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds. The weather disturbance is expected to move from west to east, affecting the Western and Central groups most heavily before reaching the Eastern group.