IPMA Weather Warnings: What Yellow, Orange and Red Mean in Lisbon
Portugal's weather service colors each district on a map, and the color tells you how seriously to take the next 72 hours. How the system works, where alerts arrive and how fire danger differs.
IPMA, Portugal’s weather and sea institute (Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera), issues weather warnings for each district in four main colors: green for no risk, yellow for risk to some weather-dependent activities, orange for moderate to high risk and red for extreme risk. Warnings cover the next 72 hours and eight hazards, from strong wind and heavy rain to heat, cold and rough seas.
The warnings are meant for civil protection authorities and the public. Once a warning is orange or red, IPMA tells people to follow the guidance of ANEPC (Autoridade Nacional de Emergência e Proteção Civil, the national emergency and civil protection authority). The system below is as described on IPMA’s own guide, as of November 2026.
What does each warning color mean?
Each color reflects the intensity of the forecast weather, measured against IPMA’s issuing criteria for each hazard.
| Color | Meaning, according to IPMA | What IPMA asks you to do |
|---|---|---|
| Grey | Information being updated | Check again later |
| Green | No risky weather expected | Nothing special |
| Yellow | Risk for certain activities that depend on the weather | Follow how conditions develop |
| Orange | Moderate to high risk | Keep up to date and follow ANEPC guidance |
| Red | Extreme risk | Keep regularly up to date and follow ANEPC guidance |
When a district has warnings for two hazards at different levels, for example wind and rain, the map shows the color of the higher one. Click the district to see the second warning.
Which weather hazards does IPMA warn about?
IPMA issues warnings for eight hazards, each with its own thresholds:
- strong wind (vento);
- heavy rain (precipitação);
- snow (neve);
- thunderstorms (trovoada);
- cold weather (tempo frio);
- hot weather (tempo quente);
- persistent fog (nevoeiro);
- rough seas on the coast (agitação marítima).
For heat and cold, IPMA also points people to the health advice of the Directorate-General of Health (Direção-Geral da Saúde, DGS). Coastal warnings matter for the Cascais line beaches and the Costa da Caparica.
Which district covers Lisbon?
Warnings on the mainland are issued for the 18 districts, so the city of Lisbon falls under the “Lisboa” district. That district also covers municipalities such as Sintra, Cascais, Oeiras, Amadora, Loures and Odivelas.
The south bank of the Tagus, including Almada, Seixal and Barreiro, is in the “Setúbal” district, which can have a different color on the same day. Madeira is split into four regions and the Azores into three island groups.
Where can I get IPMA alerts?
The fastest official sources are IPMA’s website and app, and ANEPC’s channels.
- Open the IPMA weather warnings page and choose “Lisboa” (and “Setúbal” if you cross the river).
- Install IPMA’s official app for Android or iPhone, which shows forecasts and warnings.
- Follow ANEPC at prociv.gov.pt and on its social media for preventive measures and civil protection alerts.
- Watch for ANEPC text messages. ANEPC can send public warnings by SMS through the mobile operators, in Portuguese and English, but it decides case by case, and a red IPMA warning does not automatically trigger an SMS.
Save the emergency number 112 and the health line SNS 24 (808 24 24 24); see our guide to emergency numbers in Portugal.
How is fire danger different from a weather warning?
Rural fire danger is a separate index, the Rural Fire Danger (Perigo de Incêndio Rural, PIR), which IPMA publishes by municipality rather than by district. It has five classes: reduced (reduzido), moderate (moderado), high (elevado), very high (muito elevado) and maximum (máximo).
The class for your municipality decides whether activities such as burning piles of cuttings, using a barbecue grill and launching rockets are allowed. The PIR page shows what is permitted or banned each day. When the government declares a state of alert (situação de alerta), its restrictions override those of the PIR classes.
What changes in Lisbon on an orange or red warning?
There is no automatic list. Decisions are taken case by case by ANEPC, Lisbon’s municipal civil protection service and the government, based on the forecast.
- The city may close parks, gardens and other outdoor public spaces during strong wind, because of falling trees and branches.
- Schools may be closed or classes suspended, which is announced by the government or the municipality.
- Transport operators may reduce or suspend services, especially the Tagus ferries in rough weather; check each operator’s site, and see our guide to Lisbon’s Tagus ferries for the routes.
- Events in public spaces can be cancelled or moved.
Stay away from the riverside and the beaches during coastal warnings, secure balcony items and avoid parking under trees during wind warnings, and do not drive through flooded streets.
Bottom line
Check both the “Lisboa” and “Setúbal” districts if you live or work on either side of the river, because the south bank can be under a different warning. Treat orange as the level at which plans should change, and red as a signal to stay indoors and follow ANEPC’s instructions.
FAQ
How far ahead does IPMA issue warnings?
Warnings cover situations expected in the next 72 hours, and IPMA updates them as forecasts change. The warnings page shows the timeline in UTC.
Is a yellow warning dangerous?
Yellow means risk for certain activities that depend on the weather, such as outdoor work, fishing or hiking. For most people in the city it means keeping an eye on the forecast.
Does IPMA warn about earthquakes?
No warnings are issued in advance for earthquakes. IPMA publishes information about seismic activity after events on its website.
Do I need to register to get ANEPC text messages?
No. ANEPC sends its public warnings through the mobile operators it has contracts with, not through a sign-up list. Keep following IPMA and ANEPC directly, since not every situation triggers an SMS.
