In a statement, the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA) informs that between Monday and Friday (December 22nd and 26th), the weather on the mainland “will be influenced by the interaction of an anticyclone located in the Azores archipelago region, which will extend northeast from the 23rd, and by a low-pressure area over the western Mediterranean”.

Until Tuesday, “periods of rain or showers are expected, with snow above 800/1,000 metres altitude, gradually rising to the highest points of the Serra da Estrela mountain range during the afternoon of the 22nd,” indicates IPMA (Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere).

“After a generally partly cloudy day on the 24th, showers are expected on the 25th and 26th, with snow above 800/1,000 meters altitude,” the note says.

The wind will be “from the north quadrant, sometimes blowing strongly on the western coastal strip” on Monday and Tuesday, “and in the highlands,” predicts IPMA.

The forecasts indicate a slight rise in temperature until Tuesday, with maximum temperatures ranging between 14°C and 17°C on the coast and between 5°C and 12°C inland, and minimum temperatures varying between 6°C and 11°C on the coast and between -1°C and 7°C inland.

Drop in temperature

In its special Christmas forecast, IPMA (Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere) says that from Wednesday onwards, a gradual drop in temperature is expected until Friday, with maximum temperatures ranging between 10°C and 14°C on the coast and between 2°C and 9°C inland.

The minimum temperature will vary between 2°C and 7°C on the coast and between -3°C and 4°C inland. There are conditions for the formation of morning fog or mist in some locations.

IPMA also highlights that "road safety, particularly during the night and morning, may be locally affected by the occurrence of ice on the road" on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and "on the west coast the waves will be from the northwest with four to five meters, decreasing to two to three meters" from Tuesday, while "on the south coast the waves will be from the west/southwest with one to 1.5 meters".