Temperatures will reach over 35°C degrees in regions of mainland Portugal on Friday and Saturday, leading to a risk of fires. The heatwave will be caused by hot air coming from North Africa which will also lead to dust, according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA).
Paula Leitão from the IPMA has said that the regions of Northern and Central Portugal are cloudy and facing rain today, but that after Thursday temperatures will slowly begin to increase, with high temperatures coming on Friday and Saturday. Friday is projected to be the day with the largest temperature increase, particularly in the region of Alentejo.
Temperatures are above the normal amounts at this time of year, even minimum temperatures. Paula Leitão has said that minimum temperatures will also be high for this week at 20°C in some districts. However, after Sunday, temperatures will start to decrease and rain and thunder are expected.
A cloud of dust from North Africa is coming from the Sahara desert and moving through the Atlantic between May 12 and 17. The dust is expected to reach western Europe between May 20 and 21. Hot temperatures are also coming to Spain and France this week.
Aerosol forecasts from #CopernicusAtmosphere observed another large plume of #SaharanDust moving across the Atlantic between 12-17 May and heading towards the Caribbean.
The forecast shows a strong plume predicted to reach western Europe on 20 & 21 May➡️ https://t.co/tBveTTMaJu pic.twitter.com/1sCD2eBQK6
— Copernicus ECMWF (@CopernicusECMWF) May 16, 2022