Cristina Simões, meteorologist at the IPMA
Experts predict that in Portugal in August: temperatures above normal in the interior and slightly below average on the coast. The occurrence of a heat wave as extreme as the one in July seems, at least for now, unlikely.
At the moment, the long-term forecasts of the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA) say it is unlikely that, in August, we will have the extreme heat that we had in July. Even so, the month could be, in some regions of mainland Portugal, a month of above-average temperatures. Possibly, we will see a two-faced country. On the coast, thermometers should register slightly lower values than normal for the time of year. Inside, the heat should be more intense than it already tends to be.
Focusing on the first seven days of August, Cristina Simões, meteorologist at the IPMA, says that, after the increased heat felt this weekend, there should be a slight general drop in temperatures. But the highs are expected to remain quite high inland. “The first week of August should be identical to the last week of July, with the coast being cooler and the interior with higher temperatures. As a general rule, nothing too unusual for the time of year we are in,” she points out.
The meteorologist says that, in Lisbon, the maximum should be close to 30 degrees in this first week of August. In Porto, only some regions are expected to reach 38 ºC. “The heat should be higher in inland areas where temperatures above 35 or even 40 degrees are more common”, she reveals, listing districts such as Beja, Bragança, Castelo Branco, Évora and Guarda.
It may be that, in some of these territories, temperatures approach 40 ºC and a heat wave situation will be recorded , which occurs when the maximum remains five degrees above average for at least six consecutive days. “But, if they occur, they should be less prolonged waves [compared to the July heatwave]”, says Cristina Simões.
The IPMA meteorologist stresses that, according to forecasts, it is “unlikely that in August we will see temperatures as severe as those we saw in July”. “Last month we saw some regions with almost 50 degrees in temperature. In August, or at least in these first days of August, we may have values close to 40 degrees, which, at this time of year, is usual for certain areas of Beja and Évora, for example”, he reinforces.
July was a tough month (to say the least). The several days in a row of high temperatures, both in Portugal and in the rest of Europe, led to several records being broken. In the UK, thermometers crossed the 40 degree barrier for the first time. Here, the parish of Pinhão (Vila Real) reached 47 ºC for the first time, which was a record in the month of July for the region — and came close to the highest temperature ever recorded in Portugal: 47.3 degrees in the parish. Alentejo in Amareleja, in 2003.
The heat worsened the drought that was already ravaging the country. It also accentuated the risk of fire a risk that would materialize .
Ricardo Deus, IPMA’s climatologist, tells PÚBLICO that almost 60 Portuguese weather stations recorded temperatures above 40 degrees at least once in July. Altogether, temperature records were broken in almost 100 stations, including 40 absolute records and 60 records specifically for the month of July.
DO YOU HAVE A TRIP BOOKED? STRIKE NOTICE AT 10 AIRPORTS FROM 19TH TO 21ST AUGUST 2022
The protest demands the lifting of the suspension of contributions to the pension fund by Vinci, as well as the hiring of more human resources.
The unions SINTAC and SQAC announced a strike notice for the 10 airports under concession by Vinci Aeroportos between the 19th and 21st of August.
“Given the inflexibility of the proposals presented by ANA/VINCI over the last year and the attempt to reduce rights enshrined in the Company Agreement, attacking the rights that workers have achieved over decades, SINTAC and SQAC consider it urgent to end this blind policy and put an end to all this instability”, the unions say in a statement released.
According to the National Civil Aviation Workers (SINTAC) and Commercial Aviation Boards (SQAC) unions, at stake are the “claim for the lifting of the suspension of contributions to the pension fund by Vinci”, as well as the hiring “more human resources for airport operations, supervisors of rescue operations and maintenance technicians at the various national airports”.
The strike notice was issued after consultation with the workers and, according to the document, will cover “all workers at all ANA airports, concessioned by the Vinci Aeroportos group”, coming into force at 00:00 on August 19 and extending for a period of time until the end of August 21st.
SINTAC and SQAC point out that this warning comes “after several attempts, over the last few years, to prevent a strike from going ahead”.
The two unions then ask for the replacement of contributions to the workers’ pension fund, that Vinci Aeroportos “stop trying to destroy the rights obtained over decades by ANA workers”, increase “the salary of its workers with dignity, taking into account its results and inflation” and “take urgent measures to hire the missing human resources”.
COMMENT
Once we know more details and contingency plans we will publish
List of ANA/VINCI airportshttps://www.ana.pt/en/corporate/home
DROUGHT AND HEAT COULD AFFECT WINE PRODUCTION IN THE DOURO IN 2022
The hydric stress on the vine and the intense heat could cause a “remarkable drop in production” in the Douro vineyards. The year 2022 is therefore a year of uncertainty for the oldest demarcated and regulated region in the world — the Douro.
“What we’ve found was that the very high temperatures led to shatter (coulure) [a physiological incident in which the flower does not evolve into fruit], the dryness led to a lesser expansion of the leaves and smaller grape berries”, explained Rosa Amador, director-general of ADVID.
At the moment, “production is no longer considered to be able to reach the minimum estimate of 262.000 barrels of wine”. “It is still very difficult to make a prediction of what the break will be”, she admitted. The past week was one of “scorched conditions”, in which the grape berry may have been burnt.
On the other hand, 2022 is a year without problems in terms of diseases and pests in the vineyard.
The greatest difficulties can be felt in the Douro Superior and in the lower areas of Cima Corgo.
Let us remember that the national record for the maximum temperature (47ºC) for the month of July was beaten exactly in Pinhão, the heart of the Douro demarcated area.
RURAL FIRES – MAINTAINING OUR VIGILANCE
PREPARATION CHECK LIST – BE FIREWISE – 10 TIPS
Although the weather is returning to what is “seasonable” for this times of year compared to the extreme conditions earlier this month, we must not let our fire guard down and we should continue to be FIREWISE
Be aware of the rural fire restrictions currently in place.
Be aware of how to avoid dehydration or other health problems due to exposure to sun and hot weather
Keep up to date with the fire warning through IMPA
Be alert to SMS messages from ANEPC concerning the weather/fire situation
Ensure that you have done everything you can to protect your property from fire
Know what to do should a fire approach you and/or your property
Monitor the fires through ANEPC
If you see a fire call 112 immediately – every second counts
High risk areas – Have an emergency kit ready in case of evacuation
Avoid any actions that could cause a fire – 98% are human cause
Know where to find further information here:
Fire risk: https://www.ipma.pt/en/riscoincendio/rcm.pt/
Fire monitoring: http://www.prociv.pt/…/SITUACAO…/Paginas/default.aspx…
Health high temperatures: https://www.safecommunitiesportugal.com/…/sun-and…/
Action in event of fires: https://www.safecommunitiesportugal.com/…/during-fires/
IPMA weather: https://www.ipma.pt/en/otempo/prev.significativa/
IPMA warnings: https://www.ipma.pt/en/otempo/prev-sam/?p=high-temperature
RURAL FIRE, REVEL, VILA POUCA DE AGUIAR, VILA REAL
UNDER RESOLUTION
The fire has been fought by over 500 operatives with up to 12 aircraft and helicopter for the two day period.
GOVERNMENT AUTHORIZES ADDITIONAL 325 PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS
Lisbon, Jul 26, 2022 (Lusa) – The Ministry of Internal Administration (MAI) indicated today that the constitution of 65 new Permanent Intervention Teams (EIP) has been authorized for the voluntary fire brigades in the second half of the year, totalling 325 firefighters.
In a statement, the MAI states that 734 EIPs are currently authorized and 553 teams are operating that are a permanent professional response to civil protection risks in humanitarian firefighters associations.
According to the MAI, this authorization to sign the 65 protocols allows for the constitution of four first teams, 11 second teams, created in fire departments where an EIP already existed, 49 third teams and a fourth EIP.
The MAI states that, of the 65 new EIPs, 36 will be set up in low-density territories and states that the selection of these teams “was based on objective and verifiable criteria, established by the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority and presented to the Portuguese Fire Brigade League”.
The protocols, to be concluded between the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority, municipal councils and humanitarian firefighters associations, aim to improve the efficiency of Civil Protection and the conditions of prevention and assistance in the face of accidents and disasters, according to the MAI.
ACTION IN THE EVENT OF RURAL FIRES – “EMERGENCY KITS”
YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU MAY HAVE TO LEAVE HOME QUICKLY ESPECIALLY IN HIGH RISK AREAS
Over the last three weeks we have seen several major fires where people have been evacuated /displaced from their homes. As we have seen fires can move quickly so being prepared is important.
When you need to evacuate from a rural fire there may be no time to lose – this is not the time start thinking about what to pack. You must leave your home as soon as physically possible which is why an easy to carry Emergency Kit is a good thing to have on hand and stored in a convenient place.
If there are several people in your household, they should each have their own Emergency Kit – if only a couple, one shared kit should be enough. Backpacks are ideal for storing the necessary items and are quick to grab. Food and water could go in a cool box light enough to easily lift into your car.
A basic kit should comprise the following, but of course can be supplemented by other items as well.
• First-aid kit;
• Your usual medication;
• Water and non-perishable food;
• Personal hygiene products;
• A change of clothes;
• Radio, flashlight and whistle;
• Money;
• Family / friends contact list/copy important documents/back-up; USB stick and charger
If you already have one, check it is up to date
Based on ANEPC guidelines.
Action during Rural fires here:
https://www.safecommunitiesportugal.com/…/during-fires/
Safe Communities Portugal is a qualified Civil Protection Volunteer Organisation under Portuguese law
CP Strike
CP informs that, due to a strike called by a trade union organization representing the workers of IP (railway infrastructure managers) strong disturbances are expected in the train’s circulation, at a national level, in all services, on the 1st, 3rd and 5th of August, 2022.
For more information – Helpline (808 109 110 – cost of a call to the national fixed network), Gabinetes Apoio ao Cliente and CP Ticket Offices.
https://www.cp.pt/…/notas-imprensa/greve-infraestruturas
Customers who already have tickets purchased to travel on Alfa Pendular, Intercidades, Internacional, InterRegional and Regional trains will be entitled to a refund, in the total amount of the ticket purchased, or its free revalidation for another train of the same category and in the same class.
Refunds or revalidation can be done on myCP in the “Os seus bilhetes” tab (for tickets purchased online and on CP App) up to 30 minutes before the train departure from the customer’s station of origin, as well as at the ticket offices.