AIR QUALITY WARNING

 

The quality of the air over mainland Portugal is expected to remain poor and place the elderly and children at risk until Thursday thus week.

 

The air is being polluted by dust from the Sahara Desert in northern Africa.  The warning came from Portugal’s national health authority today, Tuesday, urging the elderly and children to take care.

 

Sahara dust particles can trigger inflammatory responses in the raspatory system leading to acute and chronic respiratory conditions.

 

The yellow dust from the Sahara, the largest hot desert in the world, can be smelt by many people especially in the Algarve.

 

 

 

 

The quality of the air over mainland Portugal is expected to remain poor and place the elderly and children at risk until Thursday thus week.

 

The air is being polluted by dust from the Sahara Desert in northern Africa.  The warning came from Portugal’s national health authority today, Tuesday, urging the elderly and children to take care.

 

Sahara dust particles can trigger inflammatory responses in the raspatory system leading to acute and chronic respiratory conditions.

 

The yellow dust from the Sahara, the largest hot desert in the world, can be smelt by many people especially in the Algarve.

 

 

 

BEWARE - FIMES COMING AGAIN

 

Forest fires in Portugal are yet again a severel threat that is getting ready to burn more than 1% of the national territory, the highest rate in the EU.

 

Aggravated by climate change, droughts, strong winds and rural abandonment these fires devastate thousands of hectares resulting in human tragedies, loss of biodiversity, and high economic costs. 

 

Climate Change, extreme heat waves and prolonged droughts create ideal conditions for the risk of wildfires, as does the expansion of highly flammable plants such as eucalyptus, along with rural abandonment.

 

Most of the fires are of human origin, whether due to negligence or arson. Strong winds and steep terrain often make firefighting difficult.

The year 2025 recorded one of the worst fire seasons, with 43% of the total burned area in the EU concentrated in Portugal and Spain.

 

The loss of human lives and the destruction of homes and infrastructure are recurring consequences.

Protected Areas: National parks, such as Serra da Estrela and Gerês, are frequently affected, threatening the habitats of protected plant and animal species. 

PORTUGAL’S ENETGY CRISIS

 

This Tuesday afternoon Portugal’s President and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces António José Seguro will chair a meeting of the Superior Council of National Defence to discuss an impending energy crisis in this country.

The Superior Council of National Defence is a specific collegial body that acts in an advisory capacity on matters relating to national defence and the organisation, functioning and discipline of the Armed Forces.  This body comprises the Prime Minister, the Ministers of State and of National Defence, Foreign Affairs, Internal Administration, Finance, and those responsible for the sectors of industry, energy, transport and communications, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, and the Chiefs of the Navy, Army and Air Force.

The Superior Council of National Defence also includes representatives of the Republic and the presidents of the governments of the autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira, the chair of the National Defence Committee of the Assembly of the Republic, and two further members of parliament elected to this body by a two-thirds majority.

The president’s announcement came just as energy minister Maria da Graça Carvalho confirmed that Portugal is closing in on the moment at which it will have to declare an energy crisis for which specific measures have just been decided.

It also came after Minister for Foreign Affairs Paulo Rangel reiterated in Brussels that Portugal will not be participating in the conflict in the Middle East – neither militarily nor in the recent capacity suggested by President Trump of “securing the Strait of Hormuz” for the passage of oil tankers. This is a position shared by other NATO members, particularly France, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain.

In the United States, President Trump has reacted harshly to the stance by NATO members not to rally to his call for “a very small endeavour to protect the strait.

WILDFIRE RISKS WORSEN

 

 

Storm damage over the winter months has increased fears of devastating wildfires this summer.

 

The relevant authorities in Portugal, Spain and France have come up with a plan to closely share wildfire information.

 

The storms in January created a dangerous growth of ground vegetation and a blockage of hundreds of kilometres of forest paths, especially in the central region of Portugal.

 

Experts in Portugal, Spain and France have just announced the development of computer app to monitor real-time any local and regional spread of wildfires.

Even though this is still not the beginning of April,  100 firefighters are battling a blaze in the Peneda  Geres National Park in northern Portugal. 

 

 

 

 

TOP ELECTION INTERUPTED

Round two of Portugal’s Presidential Election scheduled for this Sunday has been partially postponed because of the extremely severe weather conditions.

 

The impending run-off between Antonio Jose Seguro of the centre-left Socialists (PS), and Andre Ventura founder of the right-wing Chega party, was partially called off on Friday, largely because of Ventura’s concerns about the impact of the weather on voting. His request for a total postponement was rejected. Much of the vote will instead be held in a week’s time, though it may not be delayed in some municipalities.

 

 Seguro got the most votes in round one of the election last month with an insufficient majority to avoid a run-off. The odds seem to favour Seguro, especially as the Socialists have formed many alternative governments opposing the centre-right Social Democrats since the Cultural Revolution that ousted the dictatorship and restored democracy in 1974.

 

A surprise presidential win by Chega would put it on track along with the increasing appeal of right-wing populists in various European countries, as well as in the United Kingdom where the Reform Party may well succeed the deeply troubled  Labour Party.

 

The violent winds and persistent heavy rain that has caused extreme flooding across much of the country seems to have subsided, but more could come. Storm Marta ripped across Portugal and into Spain on Saturday following a devastat8int week by Storm Leonardo. Thousands of civil protection, police and other specialised officers are on standby to help with any more weather crises impacting on the final presidential voting.