This poses a high risk to allergy sufferers in central and southern Portugal, according to forecasts by the Portuguese Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (SPAIC).

During the week of 27 March to 2 April, the rain will subside. As a result, atmospheric pollen concentrations are expected to rise. Levels will be high in Coimbra, Castelo Branco, Lisbon, Évora, and Faro; moderate in Porto (in the Entre Douro e Minho region); and low in the rest of the country.

High pollen concentrations are expected in Coimbra, Castelo Branco, and Lisbon, mainly from cypress, plane, pine, and oak varieties, as well as from grasses, sorrel, nettle, and Urticaceae plants.

Évora and Faro will also see high pollen levels, predominantly from the same tree varieties and plants listed previously.

In Porto (between the Douro and Minho regions), moderate levels of pollen in the air are expected, primarily due to pollen grains from cypress, plane, pine, oak, and cork oak trees, as well as from grasses, nettles, and other Urticaceae plants.

Pollen concentrations in the air next week are expected to be low in Vila-Real (Trás-Os-Montes and Alto Douro region), Funchal (Autonomous Region of Madeira), and Ponta Delgada (Autonomous Region of the Azores).