The Madeira Regional Civil Protection Service (SRPC) issued this Saturday a set of recommendations to the population in view of the weather forecasts that put the archipelago under orange alert due to heavy rainfall.
In the document, the SRPC indicates that “associated with the active depression that should condition the weather in the Madeira archipelago between the late afternoon of the 3rd (Saturday) and the early morning of the 5th (Monday), periods of rain or occasional heavy showers accompanied by thunderstorms, especially on the south coast and in the mountainous regions of the island of Madeira”.
It also points to wind with gusts of around 90 kilometers in the mountainous regions and up to 80 kilometers in the most exposed areas, while the waves will be four meters on the south coast, reaching five in the north of the island.
Given the alerts issued now, the SRPC recommends that the population “avoid travel to areas affected by this type of meteorological situation” and “not circulate through areas with degraded buildings, due to the risk of landslides.”
It still asks people to adopt “defensive driving by reducing speed and taking special care with the possible formation of sheets of water.”
Special care is recommended on motorized and foot routes, especially in mountainous areas, slopes and coastal areas due to the risks they represent in this type of situation.
Closing doors and windows, removing loose objects from balconies and windowsills, making sure that rainwater drainage systems are clear and removing aggregates and other objects that can be dragged or hinder the free flow of water are other advice reiterated by Civil Protection.
The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere has placed the Madeira archipelago under a yellow warning due to strong marine agitation, wind and precipitation, which in case of rain will worsen to orange between 12:00 on Sunday and 00:00 on Fair Monday.
Source: Observadora
