Charles Splits and Weakens: Faro Is the Only District Left on Red for Wind, but Red Rain Stays in Eight Districts Until 18:00

Depression Charles has lost strength on its way to the mainland, and the Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera (IPMA, the national weather service) has cut most of this morning's red wind warnings. At 11:00 only the Faro district remained on red for wind. The rain is a different matter: red rain warnings are still in force in eight districts until 18:00, and the danger is not over. Here is what has changed since our 07:00 report on the warning map.

Why the forecast changed

RTP reported that the depression split into two less intense cores after crossing Madeira, though IPMA warned the rain would not ease. IPMA meteorologist Patrícia Gomes told Lusa (via Notícias ao Minuto) that the depression's centre will not reach pressure as low as forecast, which "makes all the difference" to wind intensity. She added that warnings can still be adjusted during the day.

According to IPMA's warnings at 11:00:

• Red for wind: Faro only, from 09:00 to 21:00, with gusts of up to 120 km/h and up to 140 km/h in the most exposed places.
• Orange for wind: Lisbon, Setúbal and Beja (down from red), from 09:00 to 21:00, with gusts of up to 120 km/h. Leiria, Santarém, Évora and Portalegre are off orange and red for wind.
• Red for rain: Lisbon, Setúbal, Beja and Faro from 09:00 to 18:00; Leiria, Santarém, Portalegre and Castelo Branco from 12:00 to 18:00.
• Orange for rain: Viana do Castelo, Braga, Porto, Vila Real, Bragança, Aveiro, Viseu, Guarda and Coimbra until 21:00, and Évora until 18:00.
• Orange for sea: Lisbon, Setúbal, Beja and Faro from 12:00 to 21:00, with south-westerly waves of 5 to 7 metres and maximum heights of up to 13 metres.

The impact so far

The Autoridade Nacional de Emergência e Proteção Civil (ANEPC, the civil protection authority) recorded 106 mainland incidents overnight up to 08:00, 81 of them floods, RTP reported. Greater Lisbon had 57 and the Setúbal peninsula 24. No casualties were reported.

Air travel has taken the biggest hit. By 09:20, 222 flights had been cancelled at Lisbon and Faro airports (208 of them in Lisbon), Lusa reported from ANA data. TAP is letting passengers booked for today rebook without penalty up to 17 November. Lusoponte has limited the Vasco da Gama bridge to 100 km/h and advises motorcycles and high-sided vehicles against crossing.

The ULS do Litoral Alentejano (the regional health unit for the Alentejo coast) has suspended scheduled appointments, exams and non-urgent treatments; its emergency services stay open and its health centres see acute cases until 13:00. E-REDES said about 2,000 customers were without power at 07:00 after a calm night; REN reported no relevant disruption to the national grids. In Madeira, regional civil protection logged 210 incidents by 09:00, and a man swept away by an overflowing stream in Funchal was found alive.

What this means for you

The mainland state of alert remains in force until 23:59 today, with schools and non-essential public services closed. ANEPC expected conditions to worsen from late morning, and the red rain warnings for Leiria, Santarém, Portalegre and Castelo Branco only begin at midday. Avoid flooded roads and underpasses, keep away from fallen cables and check flights with your airline. Follow ANEPC advice, use SNS 24 for non-urgent health questions and call 112 in an emergency. If your home is damaged, read our guide to checking your insurance cover and recording the damage.