“We are approaching a cold frontal surface that will bring us precipitation and intensified winds again towards the end of today. So we have light rain at the end of the day on the Minho and Douro coast, then the front passes on Thursday from north to south with periods of rain across the entire country”, Cristina Simões told Lusa.

According to the meteorologist from the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), on Thursday the showers will turn to snow, starting at the highest points of Serra da Estrela and then the level gradually drops to 800 to 1,000 meters above sea level.

The IPMA issued a snowfall warning between 9pm on Thursday and 7pm on Friday in the districts of Bragança, Viseu, Castelo Branco, Porto, Guarda, Vila Real, Viana do Castelo and Braga.

“The wind will be especially strong on the coast and in the highlands with gusts of up to 60 kilometres per hour on the coast and 80 to 85 in the highlands on Thursday and Friday. I also want to draw attention to the maritime unrest, which will be strong from Thursday onwards, with the IPMA having already issued yellow and orange warnings,” she said.

According to Cristina Simões, temperatures will gradually decrease from today until Friday.

“We have drops in the order of 04 to 06 degrees today, from 02/03 on Thursday and on Friday there is another descent. In total, they should drop almost 10 degrees. Temperatures have been well above average for the time of year. We are still in February. But they will drop to more usual levels,” she indicated.

The IPMA meteorologist also added that at least until the weekend the rain will continue in the north and center and temperatures will also remain low.