Portugal’s August UV Surge: Nationwide Sun Hazard for Residents and Visitors

Portugal’s sun is entering its most unforgiving stretch of the year, with meteorologists flagging “very high” ultraviolet readings from the green hills of Minho to the sun-baked plains of Alentejo. For anyone new to the country’s agosto rhythm, that translates into brighter beaches, but also into a higher chance of painful burns, heat exhaustion and long-term skin damage if the midday rays are underestimated.

Sun at its fiercest: what the IPMA is saying

The Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera – IPMA’s daily map now shows UV indices hitting 9 and 10 across every mainland district, a range the World Health Organization classifies as “very high” exposure. In this bracket, unprotected skin can burn in as little as 15 minutes, sunscreen loses effectiveness faster, and children face the greatest risk of DNA damage. The agency last updated its forecast on 5 August after a cloud-free ridge of high pressure locked in over the Iberian Peninsula, pushing temperatures above 40 °C in several inland valleys and leaving the coastline only slightly cooler.

Why August’s sky feels harsher this year

Scientists note that ozone levels above Portugal continue a slow two-decade recovery, yet changes in cloud cover, aerosol pollution and warmer, drier summers are allowing more UVB radiation to reach the ground. Southern Europe is already singled out in European Environment Agency reports as a probable hotspot for rising UV in coming decades. Climatologists at the University of Lisbon add that clearer skies under persistent anticyclones explain why UV extremes now overlap so often with heatwave alerts – a double stressor for human health.

Hospitals on guard – and what it means for expats

Portugal’s last two extended heatwaves led to 333 excess deaths in early summer 2025, mostly among residents over 75. While national statistics do not isolate sunburn and heatstroke admissions, emergency physicians in Porto and Évora tell us they have treated a “notable uptick” of second-degree burns on tourists who underestimated the Atlantic breeze. The Direção-Geral da Saúde urges foreigners to mirror local customs: long lunches indoors, light linen after 16h00, and zero direct sun for babies. Pharmacies sell SPF 50+ “fator solar muito elevado” lotions, but demand often outstrips supply during holiday weekends, so bringing a trusted brand from home is wise.

Adapting your daily routine

Move any outdoor workout to the early-morning slot before 10h00 or postpone it until dusk. Beach cafés along the Algarve rent large UV-rated umbrellas known as sombrinhas, and many municipalities keep free shaded picnic zones in riverfront parks. If you drive, remember that windscreen glass blocks most UVB but not all UVA, so arms at the wheel can still tan – or burn – on long trips south. Hiking trails in the Douro and Serra da Estrela post real-time UV meters at trailheads; heed them before committing to a climb.

Apps and links worth bookmarking

The fastest update comes from IPMA’s dedicated UV index page (ipma.pt), which refreshes shortly after 09h00 daily. Smartphone weather staples such as UVLens, SunSmart and MyWeather already integrate IPMA data. Lisbon’s city council runs the bilingual Proteção Civil app, pushing heat and UV push-alerts with street-level granularity. For medical guidance in English, the SNS 24 hotline at 808 24 24 24 offers tele-triage around the clock.

Will extreme UV become the new normal?

Climatologist Filipe Duarte Santos cautions that even if the ozone layer heals fully by 2030, southern Portugal will still experience longer, clearer summers that intensify UV exposure. Adaptation, he argues, will rely more on urban shade design, public education and personal habits than on atmospheric chemistry alone. For now, the advice remains simple: pack sunglasses with certified UV400 lenses, treat lunchtime like a mandatory indoor siesta, and remember that the Portuguese sun, charming as it is, takes no holiday in August.