Bad weather : Lisbon painted white by hail

**Pedro Silva** Fri Jan 17, 2014 8:27 pm

My friends, this was taken from Correio da Manhã newspaper:

http://www.cmjornal.xl.pt/detalhe/noticias/nacional/sociedade/mau-tempo-lisboa-pintada-de-branco-pelo-granizo

Bad weather : Lisbon painted white by hail

Firefighters of Parede receiving requests for assistance due to heavy hailstorms .

A heavy rain hail ceased , this Friday , the roads of Parede, Cascais municipality , filled with ice and led to many requests for assistance to the Voluntary Firemen , according to the source institution.

According to the source of the firefighters of Parede, the great rainfall occurred about 7:30 am , and barracks began " receiving many requests for assistance " mainly due to flooding . According to the source , despite the ice on the roads the roads were not conditioned .

CIVIL PROTECTION ISSUES ALERT DUE TO RAIN AND WIND

The National Authority for Civil Protection ( ANPC ) issued a warning to the mainland between 00.00 on Friday and 20.00 on Saturday due to forecast rainfall , snowfall , sea waves and strong wind .

The ANPC reports on its website that, given the forecast bad weather by the Portuguese Institute of Ocean and Atmosphere ( IPMA ) , an alert , providing " occurrence of phenomena which are not uncommon , was issued may represent potential harm for people and goods . "

The alert " also assumes an increase and intensification of monitoring on the part of the responder , preparatory actions for possible interventions."

In the notice to the population published Thursday on the website , the Civil Protection warns of the possibility of snowfall in 800/1.000 meters in the mountains of Gerês , Montesinho , Alvão , Montemuro and Star, with greater intensity between 00.00 Today and 20.00 on Saturday.

The alert was also activated because of the strong sea waves with ripple varying between five and seven meters on the west coast , the peak may be temporarily out of 10 meters north of Cabo Carvoeiro .

Is also provided locally intense rainfall accompanied by hail , strong gusts , ranging between 60 and 100 kilometers per hour , with the expected occurrence of extreme wind events .

According to the ANPC , it is expected that as of Saturday there is a gradual improvement in weather conditions .

Given the worsening weather situation , the Civil Protection warns of slippery road conditions and possible formation of ground water , the possibility of flash floods in urban areas and flooding by overflow of water lines in the historically most vulnerable areas, damage to structures assembled or suspended and possible accidents in coastal and falling branches or trees .

Therefore, the Civil Protection recommends the people clearing the flow of stormwater systems and removal of inert and other objects that can be dragged or create barriers to the free flow of water , which adopt defensive driving , slowing down and taking special care with possible ground water and ice on the roads , use of snow chains , where circular areas affected by snowfall.

It is also recommended care flooded areas , so as to avoid entrainment of persons or vehicles to holes in the floor drain or open boxes , loose fastening structures such as scaffolding , " bulletin boards " and other suspended structures with special care in the circulation wooded areas and along the shoreline and riparian areas historically more vulnerable to flash floods .

The ANPC also advises not to perform activities related to the sea, including fishing, water sports and seaside walks , even avoiding the parking of vehicles on the waterfront , and attention to the weather information and alerts for Civil Protection and Security Forces .

Besides the yellow level issued by ANPC for your response device , IPMA put the entire coastline of mainland Portugal and Madeira on alert due to the agitation of the sea.

Due to bad weather , the Regional Civil Protection Service ( SRPC ) and the Captaincy of the Port of Madeira issued warnings for the sea waves and strong winds in the archipelago until Saturday .