Lisbon, Feb. 3, 2026 (Lusa) - The National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) warned on Tuesday of the possibility of flooding in urban areas, flash floods, landslides, and accidents in coastal areas between today and Thursday, due to Storm Leonardo passing over mainland Portugal.
According to the ANEPC statement, heavy and persistent rain is expected from this afternoon, with strong winds gusting up to 75 kilometres per hour on the coast south of Cabo Mondego (near Figueira da Foz, in the district of Leiria) and up to 95 kilometres per hour in the southern mountains.
The ANEPC also warned of rough seas on the west coast, with north-westerly waves of up to six metres, reaching a maximum height of 11 metres.
Snowfall in the highest points of the Serra da Estrela (with accumulations of up to 25 centimetres above 1,600 metres and between 10 and 15 centimetres above 1,000 metres) and in the northern and central mountains is another of the forecasts by the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA), released by ANEPC.
The note also indicates that the municipalities of Albergaria-a-Velha, Ovar, Vagos and Cantanhede, in the district of Aveiro, and Figueira da Foz and Montemor-o-Velho (Coimbra) may be potentially affected by flooding between today and Thursday.
According to Civil Protection, the municipalities of Santarém, Vila Franca de Xira, Azambuja, Benavente, Cartaxo, Alcácer do Sal and Santiago do Cacém may still be affected by flooding today, with the alert remaining in effect until Thursday.
In municipalities in the north of the country, ANEPC highlighted the need to monitor the municipalities of Porto, Viana do Castelo and Braga, warning that in Chaves and Amarante there may be a higher than expected rise in water levels.
In the note, ANEPC recommended preventive measures, including preventing blockages in rainwater drainage systems and ensuring that loose structures, such as scaffolding and other suspended structures, are secured.
ANEPC also called for "special care when travelling and staying near" wooded areas, as well as when parking vehicles near such areas, warning of the possibility of falling trees.
"Close and reinforce blinds and windows, take special care when travelling near the coast and riverside areas that are historically more vulnerable to coastal flooding, avoiding travelling and staying in these locations" are also some of the preventive measures recommended by civil protection.
ANEPC also asked people to adopt defensive driving (reducing speed and paying special attention to possible snow accumulation and/or the formation of sheets of water on the roads) and also recommended that people not cross flooded areas, in order to prevent people or vehicles from being swept into holes in the pavement or open sewer boxes.
Ten people have died since last week as a result of the bad weather. Civil Protection recorded five deaths directly associated with the passage of the Kristin depression, and the Marinha Grande City Council announced another fatality, to which were added four deaths recorded due to people falling from roofs (during repairs) or carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator.
The total or partial destruction of homes, businesses and equipment, fallen trees and structures, road and transport service disruptions, particularly railways, school closures and power, water and communication outages are the main material consequences of the storm, which has left several hundred people injured and homeless.
Leiria, Coimbra and Santarém are the districts with the most damage.
The government has declared a state of emergency for 68 municipalities until next Sunday and announced a package of support measures worth up to €2.5 billion.
BC/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
