After a cooler and more unsettled end to August, the start of September will bring generally dry and increasingly warm conditions across mainland Portugal.

The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) is forecasting above-average temperatures across the entire mainland during the week beginning 31 August. The biggest difference is expected in the interior South, where average temperatures could be between 3ºC and 5ºC above normal.

The interior Centre, southern coastal areas and the Algarve are also expected to be warmer than usual, with temperatures around 1.5ºC to 3ºC above the seasonal average.

The increase will initially be gradual. IPMA forecasts mostly clear or lightly cloudy skies on Monday and Tuesday, before a more noticeable rise in maximum temperatures from Wednesday, particularly across inland areas of the North and Centre.

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Hottest weather later in the week

The warmer weather is expected to become more noticeable from Wednesday, 2 September, before intensifying on Thursday and Friday.

Tempo.pt forecasts temperatures approaching 40ºC in some inland areas, with Beja and Évora among the locations expected to experience the highest temperatures. Santarém, Portalegre and Castelo Branco could also see temperatures well into the 30s.

Another Tempo.pt forecast points to temperatures of up to 38ºC in parts of the Douro Valley and Beira Baixa on Thursday.

The rise will also be felt closer to the coast, although temperatures are expected to remain lower than in the interior.

In the Algarve, temperatures will also remain above average during the first week of September, although conditions are expected to vary between the coast and inland areas. The eastern Algarve is likely to experience some of the region's highest temperatures.

The hottest weather will mainly be felt inland, while temperatures along the coast are expected to remain lower.

The warm weather may also continue into the following week, with IPMA currently forecasting temperatures above the usual average for this time of year across mainland Portugal.