An "African ridge" is moving across Portugal and is expected to bring temperatures as high as 38 ºC, according to Meteored Portugal. The same weather pattern is forecast to extend as far as the North Sea by Monday, 14 September.
Meteored Portugal reported the development on Friday, 11 September. The heat is expected to build over the weekend, with other Portuguese outlets describing a similar picture. Observador reported temperatures of 35 ºC to 40 ºC putting 13 districts under yellow warning, and said forecasts point to warm weather lasting until mid-October. nit.pt reported that temperatures will rise over the weekend, leaving almost the entire country under alert.
Wildfire risk is also rising. RTP reported that nine districts in central and southern Portugal are under a yellow warning from IPMA, the Portuguese sea and atmosphere institute, until Monday. Antena Livre reported that the GNR, Portugal's national guard, has warned of worsening rural fire danger in the coming days.
The warnings cover both heat and fire danger, and they overlap in central and southern districts. The material available does not specify which districts are affected by each warning or give further detail on the expected peak.
What to watch next: whether the ridge strengthens or shifts as it moves toward the North Sea on Monday, and whether IPMA raises warning levels from yellow to a higher tier.
