According to weather platform LusoMeteo, atmospheric instability is expected to persist on Thursday, particularly in inland and mountainous areas of the North and Centre, where heavy showers, thunderstorms, hail and strong wind gusts could develop during the afternoon.

While residents in northern and central Portugal keep an eye on the possibility of afternoon storms, the Algarve is experiencing the kind of weather many associate with summer.

Forecasters warn that some storms could be intense, although highly localised. This means that while some areas may experience little impact, others could see brief periods of heavy rain, hail and strong winds.

One concern is the slow movement of storm cells, which could increase the risk of localised flooding in affected areas. Strong gusts associated with thunderstorms may also cause minor damage, including fallen branches and other isolated incidents.

Despite the possibility of rain in some regions, wildfire risk remains very high across much of the country. Dry vegetation and recent warm weather continue to create favourable conditions for fires, with experts warning that the situation could worsen in the coming days.

Looking ahead, Portugal could soon face a very different weather pattern. Current forecasts suggest that a mass of hot air from North Africa will move towards the Iberian Peninsula next week, potentially bringing temperatures above 40 °C to some parts of the country.

While meteorologists say it is too early to determine the exact temperatures, the outlook points to a significant rise in heat after several days of unsettled weather in parts of the country.