The start of July brings mainland Portugal a prolonged heatwave, with the formation of tropical nights, and will send thermometers soaring to 43°C in some parts of the country.
According to the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA (source in Portuguese)), the phenomenon is being driven by an "anticyclone located to the north/northwest of the Azores archipelago" that will pull in a "mass of very hot, dry air".
Average temperatures are expected to be 3°C to 7°C above normal across mainland Portugal, IPMA says, highlighting rises of 5°C to 7°C in the Centre and Alentejo regions.
The 40°C threshold will be exceeded from Wednesday in the Alentejo districts, with high temperatures then spreading to parts of the remaining regions by the end of the week, meteorologists warn. In the Alentejo interior, daytime highs will stay above 40°C from 1 to 7 July at least.
During this period, eight districts will reach or exceed the 40°C mark: Braga, Coimbra, Castelo Branco, Santarém, Lisbon, Portalegre, Évora and Beja.
