Temperatures this weekend could reach 35 degrees on mainland Portugal, a spell of hot weather that IPMA considers unusual for this time of year.
Thermometer readings are expected to be between 30 and 35 °C across most of the country, possibly reaching 39 °C in some inland areas of the Tagus Valley. Minimum temperatures will also rise nationwide, hovering around 20 °C.
This weekend, the high temperatures will be accompanied by some cloud and showers along the coast, with the possibility of heavy rain and hail, along with thunderstorms, in inland areas, especially on Saturday afternoon. Because of the humidity, temperatures in those regions may fall slightly. There will also be dust in suspension coming from North Africa, IPMA adds.
According to IPMA, this weekend’s weather conditions are “favourable to the transport of dust from North Africa”. The suspended dust is expected to persist until the end of the day on Saturday.
What is this desert dust and what precautions should you take?
The phenomenon begins in the Sahara Desert in North Africa, when storms with strong winds raise large quantities of sand and dust.
The Meteo Trás os Montes portal, a Facebook page (source in Portuguese) dedicated to providing information on weather phenomena, explains that “the heavier particles end up quickly falling near their source”, that is, in the Sahara Desert. “The finer, lighter particles, however, can rise thousands of metres into the atmosphere and remain suspended for several days.”
After reaching altitudes above 1,500 metres, the lighter dust “enters air currents”, beginning “a long journey” that carries it across the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. “Depending on the weather conditions, these dust masses can travel thousands of kilometres.” Some reach Europe, Spain and Portugal, and others cross to the far side of the Atlantic. When the wind changes direction or loses strength, these particles begin to fall to the surface.
This concentration of desert dust can cause discomfort for some people, such as allergies and other respiratory problems (asthma, bronchitis). It also creates haze, reducing visibility, which can increase risk, especially for drivers.
But it is not all bad. The upside of desert dust is that it is “rich in minerals, especially iron and phosphorus” and, when it falls into the ocean, it becomes an important nutrient for the marine food chain, Meteo Trás os Montes notes. When it reaches land, it “acts as a natural fertiliser”.
Rain: eight northern and central districts under yellow warning
Also according to IPMA, the districts of Bragança, Vila Real, Braga, Viana do Castelo, Aveiro, Porto, Viseu and Guarda will be, this Saturday, under a yellow warning, the least severe on a three-level scale, due to rain and thunderstorms.
The forecast heatwave is expected to intensify over the course of next week, and the public is therefore advised to take specific precautions, such as drinking more water, avoiding alcoholic beverages, seeking cool or air-conditioned places for at least two to three hours a day, avoiding direct exposure to the sun, especially between 11 am and 5 pm, and using sunscreen with a protection factor higher than 30.
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