Portugal under orange alert as Ingrid brings towering waves and heavy snow

The curtain has lifted on a turbulent winter weekend: Depression Ingrid is sweeping across mainland Portugal with a cocktail of towering waves, heavy snow, squalls and a sharp temperature drop. From the fishing harbours of Peniche to the mountain villages of Trás-os-Montes, authorities are urging residents to rethink travel plans until the storm finally loosens its grip early next week.

What matters at a glance

• Orange and red weather warnings blanket much of the coast and interior.

• North-west swells of 6–8 m, peaking at 15 m, expected between Friday and Sunday.

• Snowline could slip to 600 m (and briefly 400 m) with 20–30 cm in higher ranges.

• Gusts topping 100 km/h possible on exposed ridges and Cabo da Roca.

• 1 800 civil-protection personnel and 215 vehicles on standby after 349 incidents logged in the first 24 hours.

• School closures confirmed in several interior municipalities; coastal boardwalks already taped off.

Atlantic waves on the doorstep

Swells generated west of Ireland are now racing toward Portugal’s western coastline, where Porto, Viana do Castelo, Aveiro, Lisboa and even the more sheltered Algarve have been placed under orange or red maritime alerts by IPMA. The National Maritime Authority warns that breakers could climb well above double-decker-bus height, overwhelming piers, sea-front avenues and the occasional beach-side café. Fishermen, surf schools and recreational skippers have been told to seek safe harbour, while popular spots such as Nazaré’s North Canyon viewpoint may be closed if the wave period lengthens.

Snowline sliding south

Although Ingrid is an ocean-born system, its wrap-around cold sector is dragging Arctic air toward the Iberian highlands. Bragança, Guarda, Serra da Estrela, Gerês and the Montemuro ridge are bracing for blizzard-like bursts. IPMA believes the snow accumulation above 800 m could top 30 cm, enough to shut smaller trans-mountain roads and coat wind-turbine blades in rime ice. More unusual is the forecast dip of the freezing altitude to 600 m—potentially 400 m during Saturday dawn—bringing flakes to towns such as Chaves and Viseu. Motorists on the A24, A25 and A23 corridors should be prepared for black ice once the precipitation eases.

Civil protection tightens the net

The National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) has escalated to readiness level III, its second-highest tier, mobilising engineers, rescue divers, firefighters and army units for rapid deployment. Temporary shelters with backup power generators are primed in Viseu, Vila Real and Castelo Branco in case stranded travellers or cut-off villages require assistance. On the coast, municipalities from Matosinhos to Setúbal have cordoned off promenades, while Sintra shuttered Praia Grande after saltwater reached the parking lot at high tide. Inland, local councils are rationing road salt and positioning snow ploughs along national routes.

Beyond the weekend: possible ripple effects

Climatologists see Ingrid as part of a string of stronger Atlantic depressions tapping warmer ocean surfaces. While the system itself should exit Iberian airspace by Monday, its legacy may include flooded farmland, eroded dunes and delayed transport links. Rail operator Infraestruturas de Portugal expects to reassess several hillside tracks for mud-slide risk, and insurers anticipate a spike in property damage claims after shingles and façades bore the brunt of gale-driven rain.

How to stay a step ahead

Track live alerts on the free Proteção Civil smartphone app.

Postpone coastal hikes; if you must go out, keep at least 500 m from the surf zone.

Equip vehicles travelling north or into the interior with snow chains and a fully charged mobile phone power bank.

Avoid parking under trees or old masonry walls in high-wind districts.

Store loose balcony items indoors; in winds above 70 km/h, even recycling bins become projectiles.

Check on elderly neighbours, especially in rural communities facing possible power cuts.

Silver lining for water reserves

Despite the disruption, Ingrid’s rainfall could prove a short-term boon in southern basins that spent much of 2025 flitting between moderate and severe drought. The Algarve’s reservoirs began controlled discharges on Thursday to create headroom, and hydrologists say the incoming volumes may lift storage to near-optimal winter thresholds.

By Sunday evening the worst should have passed, but until then Portugal’s safest vantage point is a window seat at home—ideally with a blanket and a cautious eye on the next alert bulletin.