“We are, in the Algarve, in the area of ​​the country where it is most difficult to capture and retain water, we are experiencing flooding in the Algarve, and we will be in the coming days”, he warned.

“We are, moreover, preparing our entire Civil Protection system to be able to mitigate the peaks of rain in the Algarve and Alentejo and the possibilities of flooding that are expected to occur in the coming days”, he added.

The centre and south of the country are expected to be particularly affected by strong hailstorms, accompanied by thunderstorms, over the coming days, according to a Civil Protection alert, regarding the possibility of extreme wind phenomena.

Based on forecasts from the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), Civil Protection issued a warning to the population according to which "greater potential for severity" is expected in the lower Alentejo and the Algarve.

Given the forecasts, the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority warned of the possibility of flooding in urban areas, floods caused by the overflow of rivers and streams and landslides.

There is also the possibility of contamination of drinking water by "inert substances resulting from rural fires".

The dragging of loose objects onto the roads, or the detachment of mobile or poorly fixed structures, due to strong wind can "cause accidents with vehicles in circulation" and pedestrians on public roads, the Authority specified in a statement.