Saharan Heatwave Targets Portugal: What Foreign Residents Should Know

An abrupt ridge of Saharan air is parking itself over the Iberian Peninsula, threatening to push Portuguese thermometers well past the comfort zone for the next seven days. Health officials say the spike in temperature is not merely inconvenient; it can be lethal if precautions are ignored. With tourists still pouring in and many newcomers hunting for long-term rentals before the school year, understanding the onda de calor warnings has never been more crucial.

Why the next week matters

Climatologists at the national weather agency IPMA expect daytime highs between 38 °C and 43 °C across much of the mainland through 13 August. Night-time minima are forecast to hover above 25 °C, a threshold public-health specialists link to increased cardiovascular stress because the body never cools down fully. The General Directorate of Health (DGS) has therefore activated its seasonal contingency plan, shifting hospital emergency rooms to an extended-hours regime and instructing local authorities to open shaded "cool rooms"—air-conditioned public spaces where anyone can rest free of charge.

Where the thermometer will bite hardest

Meteorologists point to the Alentejo interior and the Tagus Valley as the furnace of this episode, with Évora, Beja and Santarém projected to flirt with 44 °C. Lisbon could feel hotter than its forecast 39 °C because wind speeds will be low and humidity high, limiting natural perspiration. Coastal refugees should not get complacent: sea breezes in Porto or Lagos are expected to be weak, nudging the perceived temperature well above the official reading. Islands in the Atlantic remain largely spared, though Madeira’s south coast may briefly breach 32 °C.

Health authorities’ guidance

Portugal’s Plano de Contingência para Temperaturas Extremas kicks in automatically when two or more consecutive days are forecast above 40 °C. Under the plan, pharmacies must keep oral rehydration salts in stock, social-care workers will conduct daily phone checks with elderly clients, and the Labour Inspectorate is empowered to suspend outdoor construction if the heat index exceeds 45 °C. Foreign residents should note that Portugal’s public-health hotline, SNS 24 (808 24 24 24), offers English-speaking nurses 24/7; operators can direct callers to the nearest clinic that has extra staff on heat-alert shifts.

Wildfire and travel disruptions

Civil Protection has raised the national fire danger to “Very High” in more than half the mainland municipalities. Expect temporary closures of popular hiking routes in Sintra, Arrábida and the Serra da Estrela. The government has also re-introduced the summertime ban on using charcoal barbecues in rural areas. Train services on the Beja-Casa Branca line may face speed restrictions because rail tracks expand under extreme heat, potentially leading to 15-minute delays.

Keeping life normal: practical tips for expats

Veteran residents swear by early-morning market runs before the asphalt blisters. Invest in a ventoinha (portable fan) rather than relying solely on climatisation, as the grid operator has warned of peak-hour strain between 17:00 and 22:00. Supermarkets will be busy, so consider the local tradition of a late-afternoon siesta; most cafés stay open past midnight in summer, allowing errands once the sun retreats. Remember that tap water is safe nationwide—fill reusable bottles instead of buying plastic.

Looking ahead

Seasonal forecasting units in Madrid and Lisbon both hint that this could be Iberia’s last major heat spike of 2025, with a return to sub-35 °C averages by the middle of August. Yet climate scientists caution that the broader trend remains upward: nine of Portugal’s ten warmest years have occurred since 2010. For now, authorities ask everyone—resident or visitor—to stay hydrated, check on neighbours, and treat the next week as a collective test of resilience in an ever-hotter corner of Europe.