Portugal faces extreme wildfire risk as temperatures and winds rise

Thursday 13 August 2026 - 19:50

By: Azzat Manal

Portugal faces extreme wildfire risk as temperatures and winds rise

Most inland areas of Portugal and the Algarve region are facing extreme or very high wildfire danger as temperatures are expected to increase and stronger winds are forecast, particularly in the south of the country.

The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere has placed around 70 municipalities in the districts of Bragança, Vila Real, Viseu, Guarda, Castelo Branco, Santarém, Portalegre and Faro under the highest wildfire-risk category.

Around 100 additional municipalities across several districts, including Viana do Castelo, Braga, Porto, Aveiro, Coimbra, Leiria, Beja and Faro, have been classified as facing very high fire danger. More than 40 other municipalities are currently under a high-risk classification.

The warning comes as weather conditions are expected to become more favorable to the rapid spread of fires. Rising temperatures combined with stronger winds can significantly increase the risk of vegetation igniting and make any outbreaks more difficult to control.

Portugal uses a five-level rural wildfire danger system, ranging from low to extreme. The classification takes into account several meteorological and environmental factors, including air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and rainfall recorded during the previous 24 hours.

The combination of dry conditions, heat and wind makes inland regions particularly vulnerable during the summer fire season. Authorities are therefore closely monitoring weather developments and the evolution of fire danger across the affected municipalities.

The latest alert highlights the continuing wildfire threat facing Portugal during periods of intense summer heat, particularly in areas where vegetation and weather conditions can contribute to the rapid development of fires.