Planning your activities? Please do so in safety by following this government advice, writes Safe Communities Portugal.
From August 1, there will be a significant increase in temperature and relative decrease in humidity in mainland Portugal.
For August 2 and 3, maximum temperatures of 35ºC are expected in most of the territory, with levels above 40ºC in the ALENTEJO, Vale do Tejo and Beira Baixa, and temperatures reaching of 45ºC in some places.
The minimum temperatures will also rise, providing for "tropical nights" with temperatures above 20ºC, and may even exceed 25ºC in some places, particularly on the night of 2 to 3 August.
The relative humidity will remain very low during the day, showing a very weak recovery from the night of 1 to August 2. Conditions for the occurrence of atmospheric instability therefore exist, which are more likely to occur from the afternoon of 2 August. This weather situation, of very hot and dry weather, should persist until at least August 5.
These conditions constitutes the occurrence of very high fire risk indices in the ALGARVE region and in the North and Centre interior and high / very
high in the lower ALENTEJO, with worsening situation predicted in the next 48 hours for the ALGARVE leeward, of the number of municipalities with
maximum risk.
On Sunday (5 August) it is expected that these indices will increase in the North and Central regions, Following discussion with civil protection and tourism authorities in Lisbon Safe Communities has published the following advice for tourists:
With a special reference to TOURIST ACTIVITIES (in consultation with central Government today) we wish to emphasize the following safety precautions that
people should take especially those staying in rural accommodation, camping and taking part in hiking, and off-road leisure/sporting activities, namely:
1. No smoking in wooded areas or pathways that surround them.
2. No lighting of fires or BBQs except in designated places.
3. No use of fireworks of lighted flares/balloons.
4. Avoid the discarding of any material especially glass bottles, that could
cause a fire.
People taking part in such activities or staying in rural areas, protect yourself against the sun (especially at mid-day as UV levels will be very high up to 10; carry and drink plenty of water and pay particular attention to the elderly and children.
IN CASE OF ANY FIRE CALL 112 IMMEDIATELY
The full bulletin and safety advice can be downloaded in English - HERE
Monitor the daily fire risk in English - HERE
Comments
Yes Jack, also to add to your comment, discarded glass bottles, i read somewhere broken glass can amplify the suns rays promoting a fire, what's needed is more (Portuguese) youth education.
But particularly useful would be an instruction in your hotel room stressing the need to tell management when you expect to return if leaving to do any out of the ordinary activity. Like coastal or hill walks or off shore swimming. So the alarm can be raised if you have not returned on time and did not cancel it beforehand; if a change of plans. As in northern EU guesthouses in mountainous areas.