Another week of bad weather is on its way. The Civil Protection is warning everyone in Portugal to watch out for the heavy rain coming Monday afternoon, which are likely to result in floods until Tuesday morning. Conditions similar to last week are expected where various urban areas flooded.
Heavy rain, thunder, and strong winds are expected to start this afternoon in most areas of mainland Portugal.
The next two days will include “large periods of heavy and persistent rain, accompanied by thunder and strong winds,” said the National Authority of Emergency and Civil Protection in a press conference.
The areas most affected include the North and Center regions of Portugal, including Lisbon. The most critical time will happen in the early hours of Tuesday, December 20.
Due to these weather predictions, 11 districts of the country are under “a yellow state of alert”: Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Braga, Porto, Aveiro, Coimbra, Leiria, Viseu, Lisboa, Santarem, and Setubal.
Commander Andre Fernandes of the Civil Protection is warning the public to “adopt measures of auto protection and change their driving in line with the meteorological situation.”
He also asks the public to “monitor the areas more susceptible to landslides and to avoid risky behavior in coastal areas.” Moreover, he suggests cleaning water circuits and creating protection barriers in homes, so water does not enter, such as metal plates.
The weather is predicted to get better on Wednesday.
Between December 7 and December 15, the Civil Protection recorded over 7,900 incidents on national territory, including almost 5,000 floods and 88 displaced people.