Desk Report: The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) predicts that today, August 16, will be a day of clear skies and intense heat, with the thermometers reaching 40ºC (or very close to it) in several districts of mainland Portugal. News: The Portugal News.

The hottest districts will be Évora and Santarém with a maximum of 40ºC, Setúbal, Beja, and Castelo Branco with 39ºC, Lisbon with 38ºC, Portalegre with 37ºC, Braga and Coimbra with 36ºC and Vila Real and Bragança with 35ºC. In Porto, the thermometers are expected to rise to 31ºC.

The coolest district in mainland Portugal today (and the only one below 30ºC) is Aveiro, where temperatures are not expected to go beyond 27ºC.

In the Azores, temperatures continue to reach 30ºC, which is unusual for the region, even in summer.

In Madeira, where a worrying fire continues to rage in Ribeira Brava and Câmara de Lobos, maximum temperatures are expected to reach 31ºC.

On Saturday, the sky will be cloudier across the country, with the exception of Alentejo, Algarve, and Madeira, where the sun continues to shine. Temperatures remain high but will drop slightly in some districts.

Évora is expected to record a maximum of 40ºC again, Beja and Castelo Branco 39ºC, Portalegre 38ºC, Setúbal 37ºC, Santarém 36ºC and Sines 35ºC.

According to the IPMA, in Lisbon, the maximum temperature will drop by 7ºC from Friday to Saturday, meaning that on 17 August, the capital should not record more than 31ºC.

Porto, like Aveiro, Viana do Castelo, and Leiria will be one of the coolest districts in the country, with a maximum temperature of 26ºC.

On Sunday, the drop in maximum temperatures will be more pronounced, with the IPMA predicting that the sky will remain somewhat cloudy throughout the country.

The hottest districts will be Faro, with a maximum of 39ºC, Castelo Branco, Beja, and Évora with 37ºC, Portalegre with 36ºC, Bragança and Vila Real with 33ºC, Setúbal, Santarém and Viseu and Braga with 32ºC.

In Lisbon, the thermometers are not expected to exceed a maximum of 29ºC, and in Porto, 26ºC..

Biniyougbarta /SAM//