Portugal’s weather service has issued a ‘Red Alert’ to warn the population of the scorching temperatures over the next week, caused by a mass of warm, dry air from North Africa which also may carry red dust from the Sahara.
Several districts will be on Red Alert from Thursday due to the high temperatures, with some Alentejo locations hitting 45°C degrees on Saturday.
The highest temperatures will be in the Évora district. According to the IPMA weather service, the district capital and the towns of Portel and Reguengos de Monsaraz will reach 47°C - that's 116.6°F.
Vila Velha de Ródão in Castelo Branco, Cuba in Beja, and Santarém will see thermometers hit 46°C.
In Moura and Alvito in Beja and in Castelo Branco, temperatures will be around 45°C.
The heat will press down on the whole country with Porto due 34°C maximum, in Lisbon 42°C degrees and in the Algarve, a hot but not unbearable 32°C in coastal areas.
Silves, however, should experience in excess of 40°C from Thursday for a long, hot week.
Experts warn that the change will be abrupt, "In a few days we will move to temperatures well above the usual values," with more wind and reduced humidity - ideal wildfire conditions.
In recent weeks temperatures have been below normal for the time of year. In some places, historic highs are predicted in the coming week to ten days.
