In a statement, the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) explains that the gradual rise in temperature, in particular the maximum values, is associated with “a mass of warm air, originating in North Africa”, which will progressively hit mainland Portugal in the coming days.

The IPMA predicts that the highest maximum temperatures will be “very likely” on Thursday “in the interior of the South region, Ribatejo and Beira Baixa, ranging between 33 and 35°C, and may very locally reach 37°C” .

In some places in the interior North and Centre, the temperature may vary between 30 and 33 degrees Celsius, namely in the Douro river valley and some places in the interior of Beira Litoral.

“These meteorological conditions, also associated with low relative humidity values, will also result in a significant increase in the Rural Fire Danger, which should be in the Maximum and Very High classes in almost all of the North and Central interior and in the interior of the Algarve from the 27th [Thursday]”, reads the note.

In the rest of the country, the maximum temperature on Thursday will vary between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius, except in the coastal strip north of Cabo Raso, which will register values between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius.

Regarding the minimum temperature, the rise will not be so significant, adds the IPMA, although “values between 15 and 20°C are expected from the 25th [Tuesday] in the Algarve and the 26th [Wednesday] in some locations in the Center and South regions”.

For Friday and Saturday, a “decrease in the maximum temperature throughout the territory is expected, which will be more significant on the North and Center coast, with values still remaining between 30 and 33°C in many places in the South region”, according to with IPMA.