On guard in the Algarve: Portugal now on high alert over heatwave
IRISH tourists have been warned to be extra cautious after Portugal declared an ‘eightday state of emergency’ due to soaring temperatures.
Over the coming days, the mercury is set to rise to above 43C in the popular summer holiday destination.
With Portugal already experiencing a drought, the country’s officials fear the latest rise in temperatures could lead to wild fires in some regions.
Forests at risk are already closed to the public under current restrictions. Fireworks are also forbidden.
Emergency services have been placed on high alert, according to Portugal’s Civil Protection Agency, in a summer full of warnings throughout Europe.
Irish tourists are also being warned of rising Covid case numbers in popular European holiday destinations.
Tourists also warned of rising Covid cases
The BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants are causing havoc, with Spain, France, Portugal and Greece among those with the highest infection rates.
The weekly incidence rate in Portugal stands at some 1,150 people per 100,000, and Covid cases in Spain have risen by 60% in the past month alone.
France’s case numbers have risen almost 80% in just two weeks, while an average 17,027 daily cases are being reported in Greece.
At home, temperatures will continue into the mid-20s for the rest of the week. Today will start mostly cloudy with drizzle gradually clearing eastwards, and maximum temperatures of 19C to 23C.
Tomorrow there will be a few showers in Connacht and Ulster but Leinster and Munster will have long spells of sunshine, with top temperatures from 17C to 23C. It will be generally dry early on Thursday with a mix of cloud and sunny spells. However, it looks set to become mostly cloudy later in the day.