In a statement, ANEPC said that the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) predicts for the coming days, “precipitation, sometimes heavy and persistent, which may be accompanied by hail and thunderstorms, especially in the central and southern coastal regions” as well as “strong winds, with gusts of up to 75 km/h across most of the territory, which may reach 120 km/h in the highlands”.

In addition to “conditions favorable to the occurrence of extreme wind phenomena, especially in the Central and Southern regions”, forecasts point to “strong sea agitation south of Cabo Mondego” and “snowfall at the highest points of Serra da Estrela”.

According to information from the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), Civil Protection highlighted that, in the next 48 hours, in the Tagus basin, “in urban basins there may be an increase in flow rates, possibility of flooding” and, in urban basins and riverbanks in the West, based on hourly precipitation values ​​obtained from weather forecasts, “in urban basins (Cascais, Oeiras, Lisbon, Loures, Odivelas, Setúbal) flow rates with a return period of between five and 10 years may be reached”.

In the Sado basin, the “possibility of an increase in the tributary flows to the dams” is predicted and “flows in the Sado River may increase”, in the Guadiana basin, “inflows to Monte Novo may increase” and “an increase in flows in the Guadiana river may occur”, while in the Algarve river basin (Sotavento) “an increase in flows may occur”.

“This meteorological situation is expected to be more serious from the afternoon of 19th March to the morning of 20th March”, highlighted ANEPC, with “the occurrence of flooding in urban areas, caused by the accumulation of rainwater due to obstruction of drainage systems or coastal overtopping” and “flooding, increased by the overflow of the bed of some watercourses, rivers and streams” being expected.

The instability of slopes, “leading to mass movements (landslides, collapses and others) caused by water infiltration, a phenomenon that can be exacerbated by the removal of vegetation cover following rural fires, or by artificial soil development” is also mentioned in the note, as well as the “slippery road surface due to the possible formation of water sheets” and “possible accidents on the coastline, due to strong sea waves”.

Civil Protection also warned of the possibility of “loose objects being swept onto roads, or mobile or poorly fixed structures being detached, due to episodes of strong winds”, threatening to cause accidents involving vehicles in circulation or people on public roads, as well as “thermal discomfort for the population due to the increased intensity of the wind”.

The impact of bad weather can, according to ANEPC, be “minimised, especially through the adoption of appropriate behaviors”, particularly in historically more vulnerable areas, namely through “unblocking rainwater drainage systems”.

The “fixing of loose structures, namely scaffolding, placards and other suspended structures” and “special care when moving around wooded areas” or “near the coastline and riverside areas” are also part of the preventive measures set out by ANEPC.