“There have been significant changes compared to the previous IPMA forecasts, which did not predict precipitation. The precipitation situation has considerably changed compared to about two days ago, so due to the passage of the Francis depression, we will have precipitation,” the meteorologist from the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA) told Lusa.

According to the IPMA, until Wednesday, the weather will be influenced by an anticyclone located south of Iceland, which extends in a ridge towards Western Europe. “Today we will have partly cloudy skies, cold weather, and the formation of morning fog or mist, especially inland and in river valleys, which may persist throughout the day in the northeast of Trás-os-Montes and Beira Alta. There are also conditions for frost formation, especially inland,” she said.

According to the meteorologist, in the northeast of Trás-os-Montes and Beira Alta, the predicted fog associated with the negative minimum temperature is compatible with the formation of frost.

“From Wednesday onwards, the weakening of the ridge favours the gradual approach of the Francis depression, which is associated with frontal disturbances that will give rise to precipitation on the first day of the year and wind, sometimes strong and with gusts on the coast and highlands,” she added.

According to Maria João Frada, light rain is already expected in the Algarve on Wednesday afternoon, persisting on Thursday.

“In the early morning of the 1st [Thursday], there is also a possibility of light rain on the southern coast of Cabo Raso and Cabo da Roca. On the 2nd [Friday], precipitation will be felt throughout the mainland territory, sometimes heavy, and with wind,” he said.

On Wednesday, temperatures will be high, especially the minimum, but still with values ​​between 0 and -3°C in many inland locations in the northern and central regions.

“During the day on Thursday, we will also have rough seas, with waves of 2 to 3.5 meters,” she said.

Madeira

As for Madeira, a worsening of the weather is expected from the afternoon onwards with an intensification of the rain, sometimes becoming heavy, especially on the southern slopes, highlands and western part of the island.

“The IPMA [Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere] has issued an orange warning for the highlands and southern slopes, but it is likely that the warning threshold, at least in the highlands, could be raised to red if this scenario persists between 00:00 and 06:00 on Thursday,” he said.

“Thunderstorms, hail, strong winds with gusts of around 85 kilometres per hour, reaching 115 in the highlands, and rough seas with waves of 3 to 4 meters are also expected for the island of Madeira,” he said.

Azores

For the Azores archipelago, the approach and passage of a frontal system should affect the weather on all islands, causing sometimes heavy rainfall starting today.

“On Wednesday and Thursday, the instability associated with the circulation of the Francis depression should cause showers on all islands, especially in the central and eastern groups.

Strong winds and waves from the east quadrant of 2 to 4 meters are also expected.”