Funchal, Portugal, March 19, 2026 (Lusa) – At least 19 arrivals and departures were cancelled at Madeira airport on Thursday, and six planes were diverted due to the bad weather affecting the archipelago following the passage of Storm Therese.

According to information available on the ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal website, operations proceeded normally in the morning but were restricted from 12.30 pm, with 10 arrivals and 9 departures cancelled.

By 5 pm, six planes had diverted to other airports.

The Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) issued an orange warning for the mountainous areas of the Madeira archipelago due to wind conditions, and a yellow warning for several regions of the archipelago due to strong winds, rough seas, rain, and snowfall above 1,200 metres.

IPMA issues an orange warning, the second most serious on a scale of three, when a moderate to high-risk meteorological situation is expected, while a yellow warning (the least serious) means a weather situation poses a risk to certain activities.

Meanwhile, the Regional Civil Protection Service warned of worsening weather conditions starting Thursday afternoon and lasting until at least Friday, with showers, occasionally heavy, that may include hail and be accompanied by thunderstorms on the north coast, south coast, and in the mountainous regions of Madeira, as well as in Porto Santo.

Snowfall is forecast above 1,200 metres.

Winds will be strong from the west, with gusts up to 70 kilometres/hour and up to 90 kilometres in the highlands, temporarily increasing to gusts that could reach 110/120 kilometres/hour.

Regarding the sea, the forecast points to northwest waves of four to five metres on the north coast, in Porto Santo, and in the western zone of Madeira. 

The Regional Civil Protection Service recommends that people adopt behaviours appropriate to the weather conditions, namely avoiding unnecessary travel and avoiding travel to affected areas.

DC/ RYOL // ADB. 

Lusa