The latest assessment from the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA), places municipalities across several districts at the second-highest level of fire danger.

The areas affected include municipalities in northern and central Portugal, as well as parts of the Alentejo and Algarve.

Other municipalities are classified as being at high risk, while fire danger remains lower in some coastal areas.

IPMA uses five levels to classify rural fire danger, ranging from low to maximum.

The assessment takes several weather conditions into account, including air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and rainfall recorded during the previous 24 hours.

Fire risk can also vary considerably from one municipality to another and can change from day to day as weather conditions develop.

The latest warning comes during a particularly demanding summer for rural fires in Portugal, with authorities repeatedly urging people to take additional care during periods of elevated fire danger.

Restrictions may apply to certain activities in rural areas when fire danger reaches the highest levels, and residents and visitors are advised to check the current rules and local risk level before carrying out activities that could potentially cause an ignition.

IPMA's fire-risk forecast is updated daily and provides projections for the following days.