After a week of intense cold, Portugal starts the new week with rain and a slight rise in temperatures. Viana do Castelo and Braga are under yellow warning for rain and strong wind, and on Tuesday there will be 11 districts under yellow warning.
After the freezing weather that marked last week, this one starts with rain. The cold remains across the country but, without the influence of the Goretti depression, minimum temperatures will rise slightly until Wednesday.
This Monday, Viana do Castelo and Braga are under yellow warning because of the rain and strong wind. On Tuesday, they become 11 os districts under yellow warning.
According to the IPMA forecast, the periods of rain will be more pronounced in Minho at the end of the day this Monday, already in the North and Center regions, light precipitation is expected throughout the day.
There are still ppossibility of snowfall in the highest points of Serra da Star until Wednesday.
Patrícia Gomes, from IPMA, explains that the week “will be characterized by successive passage of some cold frontal surfaces”which bring precipitation across the country.
It is also planned “wind with gusts of up to 70 km/h [quilómetros por hora] on the coastal strip and up to 90 km/h in the mountains”, according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA).
O The weather is only expected to improve towards the end of the week.
The temperatures maximums will be around 7 to 17 degrees and minimums between 0 and 10 °C.
What to do to protect yourself from the cold?
Awarns of the risk of respiratory diseases, worsening of chronic conditions and accidents caused by the cold. It is recommended:
- Avoid sudden changes in temperature;
- Wearing clothes in layers;
- Protect your extremities with a hat, gloves and warm socks;
- Wear non-slip shoes to avoid falling on the ice;
- Keep your skin hydrated, especially your face, hands and lips;
- Drink water and hot drinks and eat soup;
- Increase consumption of foods rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, such as fruits and vegetables;
- At home, avoid sitting for more than an hour at a time;
- When outdoors, avoid intense physical exertion.
