The IPMA indicates that the weather on the continent and on the islands will be affected by “a cold front of moderate to strong activity, associated with a depression centered in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula”.

“Periods of rain are expected, that may at times be heavy, in Minho and Douro Litoral from the end of December 31st, coinciding with the New Year, and the precipitation will extend to the rest of the country from the morning of January 1”.

In the south, the rain is only expected in the afternoon and is forecast to decrease in intensity as the day progresses.

Despite the rain, there are currently no weather warnings expected for the weekend – the active warnings are yellow (the lowest level) and end on Friday morning, covering the districts of Viana do Castelo, Braga, Vila Real , Porto, Aveiro, Viseu, and Coimbra.

Due to the passage of the cold frontal surface, the forecast is that the wind will increase in intensity, predominantly from the southwest.

“Temperatures will remain mild, with the maximum temperature varying between 14 and 19 degrees Celsius and the minimum varying between 7 and 14 degrees Celsius”.

For Madeira, the IPMA also predicts precipitation between Friday and Sunday, light to moderate wind, and mild temperatures, with maximums of 20 to 22 degrees Celsius and minimums of 17 to 18 degrees.

In the Azores, however, there is a drop in temperatures, with minimums around 8/9 degrees and maximums reaching 14/15 degrees.

On Friday, the Central and Eastern groups will be the hardest hit by the rain associated with the passage of the cold front and the wind will blow with gusts between 70 and 80 kilometres per hour, then becoming moderate.