The IPMA has also placed more than 50 municipalities in Faro, Beja, Lisbon, Santarém, Leiria, Portalegre, Castelo Branco, Guarda, Vila Real, Viseu and Bragança at high risk.

The fire risk will remain high in some regions of the country until at least Monday due to the warm weather forecast.

High temperatures

The IPMA forecasts from today until Sunday hot weather in mainland Portugal, increasing the risk of fire, with the highest temperatures forecast for the North and Central interior and in the Algarve.

In a statement, the Institute said that the weather in the coming days will be conditioned by a mass of hot air associated with a southern current, resulting in a gradual increase in temperature between today and Saturday.

Dust clouds

“This circulation will also transport dust from North Africa, at medium and high levels of the troposphere, which should affect the territory on the 20th and 21st [Friday and Saturday], with the possibility of reduced visibility”, warns the IPMA

Saturday will be, according to the IPMA, the hottest day with temperatures varying between 25 and 35 degrees Celsius in most of the territory and occasionally values ​​of 35 to 38 degrees may be reached in the regions of the Guadiana, Tejo and Douro valleys.

According to the IPMA, these temperature values ​​are above normal for this time of year.

On Sunday, the forecast points to a significant drop in the maximum temperature.