According to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA), which for 24 July foresees strong wind in the highlands and west coast and a small temperature drop in the North and Centre, says that at maximum risk are about 90 municipalities in the districts of Viana do Castelo, Braga, Vila Real, Bragança, Guarda, Viseu, Coimbra, Castelo Branco, Portalegre and Faro.

Almost all the rest of mainland Portugal is at very high and high risk of fire, with the exception of about 20 coastal towns in the districts of Porto, Aveiro, Leiria and Lisbon and the municipality of Montemor-o-Velho, in Coimbra.

The risk of fire, which will remain high in practically the entire country in the coming days, is determined by the IPMA and has five levels, ranging from reduced to maximum.

Calculations are obtained from air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and amount of precipitation in the last 24 hours.

Civil Protection alerted on 23 July to the increased risk of fires, starting on 24 July, to “maximum or very high” levels in the regions of the North, Centre, Tagus Valley, Alentejo and Algarve and to “high” levels in the rest Mainland territory.

In a warning to the population issued on 23 July, the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC) indicates that “conditions favourable to the eventual occurrence and spread of rural fires” are expected, especially in the central and southern regions of the country, due to the weather forecast being dry on 24 and 25 July.

The ANEPC also recalls that the weather conditions are “conducive to the occurrence of erratic behaviour of the fires, especially as of tonight [23 July]”.

In the warning to the population, the Civil Protection also takes care of preventive measures, such as the prohibition of unauthorised burning, use of stoves and grills in the entire rural area, smoking or making any kind of fire in these places, launching fuse balloons lit and rockets and the use of fireworks is only allowed with authorisation from the city council.

The IPMA foresees for 24 July generally clear skies, sometimes a strong north wind on the west coast and in the highlands, a small drop in temperature in the North and Centre and a small rise in maximum temperature on the south coast of the Algarve.

The maximum temperatures will reach 38º (Évora and Castelo Branco) and the minimum will not drop from 14º (Coimbra).