Winter begins on Sunday, December 21st, with forecasts of rain, snowfall and maximum temperatures varying between 4 and 14 degrees Celsius, according to IPMA. For Christmas, forecasts are still uncertain but it is expected to rain at least until the evening of the 24th.
Speaking to the Lusa agency, the meteorologist at the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) Patrícia Marques specified that the forecast for Sunday, the day winter begins, is for very cloudy skies, showers, which could sometimes be hail and accompanied by thunderstorms in the North and Center regions.
Mainland Portugal will be affected over the weekend by a maritime polar air mass that will cause snowfall at lower elevations and temperatures close to or below 0 degrees in the North and Center interior.
“The weather will be influenced, starting today [sexta-feira, 19] and until Sunday, through a vast depression region located between Iceland and the Iberian Peninsula”, he indicated.
According to Patrícia Marques, this situation will be characterized by the passage of associated cold frontal surfaces and the subsequent transport of a maritime polar air mass over the continent from Saturday afternoon.
“On Sunday, snowfall is expected above 800/1000 meters in altitude, with the possibility of temporarily dropping the level to 600/800 meters, especially in the North region. We will also have light to moderate wind, fog or mist in some places and a small drop in maximum temperature.
Due to the snowfall, the IPMA issued a yellow warning for the districts of Bragança, Porto, Guarda, Vila Real, Viana do Castelo, Aveiro, Castelo Branco, Coimbra and Braga between 6pm on Saturday and 9am on Sunday.
With regard to temperatures, he said that the maximums will vary between 04 (in Guarda) and 14 degrees (in Faro) and the minimums between -2 (Guarda) and 08 (in Lisbon and Setúbal).
Patrícia Marques also indicated that strong sea agitation is expected for the next few days, which will be felt on the west coast, with waves from the northwest between 4 and 6 meters.
Due to the waves, an orange warning was issued for the districts of Porto, Viana do Castelo, Lisbon, Leiria, Aveiro, Coimbra and Braga (between 9am today and 3am on Saturday, then turning yellow until Sunday.
Faro, Setúbal, Beja are also under yellow warning due to the state of the sea until 6pm on Sunday.
With regard to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the IPMA meteorologist said that it should rain at least until Christmas Eve.
“We’re going to have rain next week, but it’s still too early to know for sure. Everything points to it not raining on Christmas Day,” he said.