The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) has placed the municipalities of Mirandela, Macedo de Cavaleiros, Vimioso, Miranda do Douro, Mogadouro, Alfândega da Fé, Torre de Moncorvo and Freixo de Espada à Cinta (Bragança) at maximum risk of rural fires.

The municipalities of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo (Guarda), Portimão, Silves, Loulé, Tavira and São Brás de Alportel (Faro) are also at maximum risk of fire today.

Several municipalities in all districts of mainland Portugal are currently at very high and high risk of fires.

According to IPMA calculations, the fire risk will remain at its highest across almost the entire district of Faro until Sunday, making it the most affected region.

Following the weather forecast, the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) has warned of a significant increase in the risk of rural fires, especially in the northern and central interior and in the southern region.

This risk, determined by IPMA, has five levels, ranging from low to maximum. The calculations are obtained from air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and amount of precipitation in the last 24 hours.

IPMA predicts values ​​above 33/35°C in most of the national territory, winds from the northern quadrant, relative humidity levels below 30% and tropical nights in the interior of the central and southern regions until Sunday.

Due to the forecast of hot weather, the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) has placed the districts of Bragança, Évora, Guarda, Faro, Vila Real, Setúbal, Santarém, Lisbon, Beja, Castelo Branco, Portalegre and Braga under a yellow warning until 6 pm on Saturday.

The Directorate-General for Health (DGS) warned on Thursday of an air mass from the deserts of North Africa, carrying suspended dust, which will harm air quality in mainland Portugal from today onwards.

The situation could last until Saturday and the following days, the health authority said in a note.

"A situation of poor air quality is expected to occur on the mainland, with an increase in the concentrations of inhalable particles of natural origin in the air", it reads.

This pollutant (inhalable particles) has effects on human health, especially on the most sensitive population, such as children and the elderly, whose health care must be redoubled.

While this phenomenon continues, the DGS recommends that the population avoid prolonged efforts, limit outdoor physical activity and avoid exposure to risk factors, such as tobacco smoke and contact with irritating products.

The forecast of hot weather also led the Health Department to recommend preventive measures, such as drinking water regularly and avoiding the consumption of alcoholic beverages.