Portugal Declares State of Alert as Storm Charles Approaches, Prompting School Closures and Public Safety Warnings
The Portuguese government has declared a civil protection alert for Wednesday, November 11, in anticipation of Storm Charles. This declaration has led to the closure of schools and non-essential public services across the mainland. Interior Minister Luís Neves has urged citizens to stay home and appealed to employers for understanding, stating that the country will be 'put to the test.' Outdoor activities will be suspended, and access to parks and forests will be restricted. Madeira is expected to experience the worst of the weather first, with its south coast and mountain areas under a red warning for rain from Tuesday evening to Wednesday morning, and a red wind warning with gusts potentially reaching 140 km/h. On the mainland, red wind warnings are in effect for several districts, including Beja, Faro, Setúbal, Évora, Leiria, Lisboa, Portalegre, and Santarém, with heavy rain also anticipated. Storm Charles follows Storm Bruna, which has already caused flooding in areas like Lisbon.
