Airlines have cancelled more than 200 flights to and from Portugal, while schools, hundreds of supermarkets and businesses have suspended operations because of Storm Charles, which brought heavy downpours and hurricane-force winds.
Although the storm proved less destructive than initially forecast, the government has placed all emergency services and army units on heightened alert, Reuters reports.
Classes were also cancelled, non-essential government offices were closed, and people were urged to stay at home.
Portugal’s meteorological service, IPMA, said the storm split over the Atlantic Ocean, reducing its strength as it approached via the country’s southern region. The severe weather affected most of southern Portugal and the Lisbon area.
For now, the authorities have not lifted the high threat level due to the risk of sudden flooding, strong winds and rough seas.
Earlier, Storm Charles passed through the Madeira archipelago, where it caused flooding and brought down trees. Rescuers pulled out a man who was swept away by water in his own garage, but there have been no reports of deaths or injuries.
Portugal and Spain have been hit by heavy rain brought since Sunday by another storm, Bruna. In Lisbon, road tunnels were flooded, most of which were closed.
A new storm is expected to reach south-western Spain shortly. The country’s meteorological service, AEMET, warned of a serious threat from heavy downpours and wind. Meanwhile, in central Spain, authorities evacuated more than 3,000 residents of the town of Piedralaves due to the risk of a breach at a local dam.