Considering the weather forecasts from the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) advises regular consumption of water, avoiding the intake of alcoholic beverages.

The DGS says that sun exposure should be avoided between 11 am and 5 pm, recommending the use of loose clothing that covers most of your body, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, as well as sunscreen with a protection factor of 30 and reapplying it every two hours.

Special attention should also be paid to chronic patients, children, the elderly and people with reduced mobility, and one should keep informed about weather conditions in order to take the necessary precautions.

The health authority also suggests eating cold, light meals more often during the day, working outside with someone else, closing blinds in homes and allowing air to circulate in the evening, and keeping people in cool environments for at least two to three hours a day.

Over the weekend, the IPMA had already warned of a gradual rise in temperatures in mainland Portugal, with an increase in the danger of rural fires, the maximum classification of which could affect some municipalities in the south.

The hot and dry weather is due to a mass of hot air coming from North Africa.

The ultraviolet radiation index will remain at very high values, as expected at this time of year close to the summer solstice and given the absence of cloudiness.