Atmospheric River brings heavy rain to Portugal!

(The title of this article was updated to more accurately reflect the current weather situation in Portugal)

It really is gonna “rain cats and dogs” in the North and Central Portugal. Due to large amounts of moisture in the air, various areas of Portugal are gonna receive a lot of rain. How? When this moisture encounters the continent’s terrain, the vapor condenses and generates heavy and prolonged precipitation, increasing the risk of rapidly developing floods. However, IPMA isn’t naming it as “Storm Nils” because there isn’t enough wind or other factors to classify as that.

So, an “atmospheric river” is characterized by intense moisture transport and usually subsequent conversion to heavy precipitation. In summary, there will be a lot of rain and lightning in Portugal. According with IPMA, these are the yellow and orange warnings for February 10th (Tuesday):

Orange Alerts due to Atmospheric River

On the 10th (and now also 11th), expect the atmospheric river to bring heavy rain to Portugal that will affect Viana do Castelo, Braga, Vila Real, Porto, Viseu and Aveiro, accompanied by thunder. Orange may turn into red if conditions get worse. Update: Coimbra is now also orange.

All of the mentioned districts, with the exception of Vila Real and Viseu, are on yellow alert for coastal events.

Yellow Alerts due to Atmospheric River

Expect continuous rain, and sometimes strong, in Bragança, Guarda, Castelo Branco, Santarém, Lisbon, Leiria and Coimbra (these three last ones also on alert for coastal events) Update: Coimbra is now orange for rain.

Update for 11th of February: According to IPMA, NILS is the name given by MÉTÉO-FRANCE (French Meteorological Service). Depression Nils will not affect Mainland Portugal directly. However, this depression has an associated frontal system that will bring warm, humid air to the Iberian Peninsula on Wednesday. Therefore, persistent and sometimes heavy rain is expected on the 11th for the North and Center regions, with less intense rain in the South.

Districts will be under an orange warning for rain: Viana do Castelo, Braga, Viseu, Vila Real, Coimbra, Porto, Aveiro, Leiria and Santarém. The rest of the districts (with the exception of Faro, Évora and Beja) are on yellow alert for rain. Please see the official website for more recent updates (these alerts may be change).

Apart from predicting the heavy rain to Portugal, IPMA indicates that, on the 11th of February, the wind will blow strongly at times, with gusts of up to 75 km/h, reaching 100 km/h in the highlands, particularly in the regions north of the Mondego River.

Second Update: The Coimbra City Council announced tonight, February 10, the preventive evacuation of the villages of Conraria, Cabouco, and the riverside areas of Ceira, Torres do Mondego, São Martinho do Bispo, Ribeira de Frades, Taveiro, Ameal, and Arzila, due to worsening weather forecasts and a significant increase in the flow of the Mondego River. It is estimated that between 2,800 and 3,000 residents may be affected by the measure. Follow the authorities updates and instructions. More evacuations may be necessary if the conditions get worse.

Risks of Heavy Rain to Portugal

Bringing more heavy rain to Portugal, increases the risk of floods, especially near rivers. Dams are already in their limit and Spain is also making discharges from their dams, letting the water go down to Portugal. Even though, Portugal has been working together with Spain to balance their dam releases, both countries are being affected by these succession of storms and need to make discharges.

Authorities are monitoring the situation closely. There is a risk of localized flooding, and moderate wind gusts, with the dangerous weather conditions expected to persist over the coming hours. If you are in any of the areas mentioned above, especially if you live near a river, follow the authorities orders and see the civil protection warnings. To see this warnings check the Autoridade Nacional de Emergência e Proteção Civil website .

In terms of thunderstorms or episodes of heavy rain and lightning in Portugal, see the following recommendations:

• Stay indoors whenever possible and avoid going outside until the storm passes.
• Stay away from water, including rivers, lakes, and the sea.
• Stay away from windows and doors, as strong winds can cause debris to fly and potentially break windows.
• Unplug electronic devices to protect them from power surges caused by lightning.
• Avoid using wired electronics and plumbing (including showers and sinks).
• Do not shelter under trees or near tall objects if you are caught outdoors.
• If you are outside, avoid using an umbrella (some people say it can attract lightning, due to its shape like a parabola or it can make you taller in relation to other things around you. Also, it is metal and can make you a point of contact. Whether it is true or not, it is better to avoid being outside, especially in open spaces, where you can be the tallest “object”, and therefore become a target for lightning to strike).
• Move away from metal objects like fences and railings.
• Avoid driving unless necessary; heavy rain can reduce visibility and cause flooding.
• Never attempt to cross flooded roads, whether on foot or by car.
• Do not leave animals in risk areas.
• Keep a flashlight and emergency kit nearby in case of power outages.
• Follow official weather warnings and instructions from local authorities.
• If necessary (due to the rise of water in your area) evacuate your home immediately.

For more alerts see this section of our website, including information about weather systems and storms bringing heavy rain to Portugal. It is important to keep up to date with the weather forecast, before planning your trip to Portugal, to avoid unexpected surprises.