Portugal Shuts Schools as It Braces for Storm

Portugal will shut down schools, non-essential services, and the premier Web Summit tech conference on Wednesday as the nation braces for the arrival of Storm Charles.

Authorities placed eight districts, including the capital city of Lisbon, on the highest red alert level for extreme weather.

Meteorologists expect the storm to slam into mainland Portugal on Wednesday morning after sweeping past the island of Madeira late Tuesday.

Forecasters warn that gale-force winds could reach up to 140 kilometres (85 miles) per hour, representing the fourth-highest category on the hurricane-force wind scale.

Interior Minister Luis Neves urged all residents who can to stay at home, while Prime Minister Luis Montenegro warned the public not to underestimate the severe dangers and risks associated with extreme weather events.

In response to the threat, organisers cancelled the second day of the three-day Web Summit.

Heavy torrential downpours raise widespread fears of severe urban flooding, echoing the natural disasters that devastated the Iberian nation in early 2026.

Between January and February 2026, a series of six successive storms battered Portugal, resulting in up to 20 direct and indirect fatalities.

Climate experts emphasise that the Iberian Peninsula remains exceptionally vulnerable to these intensified weather patterns, which climate change continues to exacerbate.