Heat warnings begin across central and southern Portugal this weekend
IPMA has issued yellow warnings for high maximum temperatures in nine mainland districts and Madeira's south coast from Saturday. Other areas join on Sunday.
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Archived 12 September 2026A yellow warning is a reason to adjust outdoor plans, especially for children, older people and anyone with a health condition. Check the exact district before travelling.
- Saturday's yellow warnings cover Beja, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Évora, Leiria, Lisboa, Portalegre, Santarém and Setúbal, plus Madeira's south coast.
- Aveiro, Braga, Porto and Viana do Castelo, and other Madeira zones, have warnings starting Sunday.
- The listed warnings run until Monday 14 September at 18:00 UTC, but IPMA can revise them.
- Drink water, seek a cool place and avoid direct sun during the hottest hours.
Where the warning applies
IPMA's warning table, updated on Saturday morning, puts Beja, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Évora, Leiria, Lisboa, Portalegre, Santarém and Setúbal under yellow warnings for persistent high maximum temperatures from 09:00 UTC on 12 September. Madeira's south coast has the same start time. The listed end is 18:00 UTC on Monday 14 September.
Aveiro, Braga, Porto and Viana do Castelo, along with Madeira's north coast, mountains and Porto Santo, are listed from 09:00 UTC on Sunday. The Azores and several other mainland districts had no warning at the time checked. This is a district-level alert, not a temperature prediction for every town.
Plan the day around the heat
Portugal's health authority advises drinking water even before feeling thirsty, spending time in a cool or shaded place and avoiding direct sun, particularly between 11:00 and 17:00. Keep outdoor exercise and long journeys away from the hottest period where possible. Check on children, older people and anyone whose health or medication may make heat harder to manage.
Weather warnings can change within hours. Before a walk, drive, event or beach visit, look again at the current warning for the exact district and at the local forecast. A yellow heat warning is not a beach-safety or wildfire-risk assessment; those need separate checks.
What you can do now.
- 01
Check the current IPMA district warning before setting off.
- 02
Carry water and plan shade or an indoor break during the hottest hours.
- 03
Seek medical advice if heat symptoms develop; call 112 for an emergency.
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