That's because, according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA), it will rain between today and Friday in most of the mainland, and in some regions it may even snow.

For today, Tuesday, December 2nd, IPMA forecasts "showers," with the possibility of "hail and thunderstorms on the North and Central coast from the afternoon. Snow in the highlands of the North and Centre. Strong winds on the coast and highlands" and "strong sea agitation."

For tomorrow, Wednesday, December 3rd, "light and infrequent showers are expected, with snow in the highlands. Rain from the late afternoon. Morning fog. Strong winds on the coast and highlands" and "strong sea agitation."

On Thursday, December 4th, the sky should be "generally very cloudy," with periods of rain, "becoming infrequent showers south of the Montejunto-Estrela mountain range from the afternoon." Also forecast is "snowfall above 1400/1600 meters. Light to moderate wind (up to 30 km/h) from the west/southwest, turning to west/northwest from the morning, sometimes blowing strongly (up to 40 km/h) on the western coastal strip and in the highlands" and an increase in minimum temperature.

For Friday, December 5th, IPMA (Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere) forecasts "generally very cloudy skies, decreasing cloud cover in the Lower Alentejo and Algarve from late afternoon onwards," showers in the North and Central regions, generally "light and infrequent, becoming periods of rain from the afternoon onwards," "light to moderate winds (up to 30 km/h) from the west quadrant, occasionally strong (up to 40 km/h) in the highlands until early morning and from late afternoon onwards," as well as "the possibility of fog or mist formation in the North and Central regions."

These forecasts should remain similar at least until Saturday. On Sunday, the rain may let up.

Temperatures

Temperatures will vary little in mainland Portugal. Faro should be the warmest district today, with a maximum of 18ºC, and Bragança the coolest, with a maximum of 7ºC and a minimum of 1ºC.

Tomorrow, the warmest district will be Setúbal, with a maximum of 18ºC, and the coolest... Guarda will have a high of 6ºC and a low of 0ºC. On Wednesday, temperatures will rise slightly. Faro and Setúbal will reach highs of 19ºC, and minimum temperatures are not expected to fall below 4ºC (Guarda).

For the Madeira archipelago, rain is forecast for today, with temperatures ranging between 21ºC and 16ºC. In the Azores, partly cloudy skies are expected across all nine islands, with temperatures varying between highs of 18ºC and lows of 12ºC.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, December 3rd, the rain will leave Madeira and move to the Western and Central Groups of the Azores. Temperatures will remain very similar to the previous day.