Winter begins, this Wednesday, with forecasts of a lot of cloudiness, some periods of light rain or drizzle and maximum temperatures between 16 and 19/20 degrees Celsius
Speaking to the Lusa agency, the meteorologist Maria João Frada, the Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), specified that the forecast is much cloudiness, fog and mist, some periods of light rain or drizzle, especially in northern and central regions and particularly in the northern regions of the mountain system Montejunto-Estrela.
"Temperatures are high, both minimum and maximum. They are above average for the time of year although all this is compatible with the entry of tropical masses with maritime origin coming from the Atlantic that have brought precipitation and also temperatures above average, "she explained.
The maximum temperatures, according to Maria João Frada, will oscillate between 16 and 19/20 degrees Celsius, being lower in the interior north and center, and the minimum between 12 and 15 degrees, being lower in the northeast and Beira Alta.
"This scenario will continue in the coming days. Temperatures should remain in this order of magnitude for the Christmas weekend, without major changes. There may be a slight decrease, but not very significant," he said.
Uncertainty on Christmas weekend
According to Maria João Frada, from the 23rd, Friday morning, a cold frontal surface is approaching, which will give rain in Minho and Douro Litoral and will extend to all regions of the North and Center.
"Then on Saturday and Sunday, especially at the end of Saturday there may be precipitation that may be temporarily intense, but there is still some time left, there is still some uncertainty. It is a scenario yet to be confirmed, but it may lead IPMA to issue warnings," he said.
According to the meteorologist, at the origin of the worsening may be a depression that will move in the Atlantic from north to south.
"So we are going to have cloudiness, some light precipitation until the 23rd [Friday] morning, which in the southern region will be infrequent, and then the worsening with the coming of a depression that will move in the Atlantic from north to south and be positioned in a valley in the high levels. Everything will depend on whether it gets closer to the territory or if there is an anticyclonic crisis that doesn't let the valley in. There is this uncertainty for the weekend", she explained.
Maria João Frada also said that IPMA is also predicting a "peaceful" situation for the Madeira archipelago until Saturday and then there may be a worsening. "On the 24th there is a cold frontal surface that will approach and the night from 24 to 25 may be problematic with possibly heavy rain and strong wind, but also still to be confirmed," she concluded.
Winter begins at 21.48 hours this Wednesday, according to the Astronomical Observatory of Lisbon.