Fires continue

The fires continue to burn, and the situation has worsened above Sao Roque with the fire gaining strength again. I don't know if the winds are still strong, if they are then there could be many problems during the night. Around 10 homes have been affected by fire now in the Sao Roque area. 

Thoughts with everyone involved and please stay safe. 

The photo below from Sofia Ferreira shows the view from her house in Canhas, Ponta do Sol this evening. 

The airport has also had many problems today with the wind, and has been closed this evening for a while. Thousands of passengers are stuck in the airport inside and outside, and I guess with it being August, hotel space is limited, so they probably will spend the night there.

Windy at airport.

Strong winds are causing problems at the airport. In The last hour 3 planes have failed to land, 1 easyjet and 2 TAP, they diverted to Porto Santo.

Update 10.30..... a total of 6 planes have now been diverted to Porto Santo. Hope the wind drops so they can get to Madeira this afternoon.

Bad Weather, Airport Closed

Your Most Updated News Blog For Madeira.....

The Island has some pretty bad weather today, it has rained almost all day with a yellow alert out for the North and Mountain regions, and they said there will be strong winds from 3pm.

The winds arrived bang on time, and the alert has been raised to orange in the mountain regions with gust over 120kmph, the bad weather is expected to last till tomorrow morning.

Although no alerts out for the South of the island, the rain has pretty much fallen all day, and its pretty windy out there, and the airport, it struggling, with no flights coming in or going out as I write this. Some flights have already been diverted and others have been cancelled.

I know there are a least 2 UK reporters on the Island who were expecting to go home today, they came for the Susan Brown story, but at the moment she is still in the psychiatric hospital in Funchal, and in no state to speak to anyone. 

My View Now.....

Todays Bad Weather.

Its been a strange day for weather today.  Warm humid very hazy, strong sea's, and the wind getting stronger during the day.

This evening the winds picked up, diverting 6 fights, 3 of which from the UK, Strong seas and high waves around the island, and heavy rain which flooded roads quickly in Funchal.

Christmas decorations have also tumbled, as well as the white fencing around the land the Savoy once stood.

We had thunder and lightning for a time also, but things look like they will settle down over night taking us back to bright sunny weather.

Photos From  Diario Noticias

More bad weather on way ?

Potential for stormy weather in the next few days, wind and rain. You should take precaution and make sure levadas and drains are clear, things are tied down or stored away and any lose branches are taken care of so they don't damage your property or cause injury.

Looking at the satellite images from Eltiempo the bad weather will be with us Thursday.

Wet and Windy

 The National Civil Protection Authority warned today for predicting rain and strong wind on Sunday, with possibility of experiencing "extreme events" related to the heavy rain and wind gusting up to 120 kilometers.

Citing the Sea Portuguese Institute and the Atmosphere (IPMA) the Civil Protection, in a statement, warned that the worsening weather takes place on Sunday and Monday and that rain will be occasionally intense, initially in the north and center and then nationwide.

The wind is blowing at a speed between 40 and 60 kilometers, but can reach 100 kms in the highlands and gusts could reach 120, warns the Civil Protection, drawing attention to the precautions when driving (floor slippery and ground water), to trees and full of falls in urban areas and flooding in vulnerable areas or underground structures.

The IPMA is also the official web site a "special information" about changing the time on election day, with a "significant increase" by the end of Monday's day.

Rain, explains the IPMA, starts right on Sunday morning (strong in the north and center) and the wind will be moderate to strong (on the coast) and strong or very strong in the highlands of northern and central.

Copied straight from the Diario Website using Google Translate.

More Bad Weather

Madeira is yet again under a weather alert for more rain and strong winds, this time being Red alert, the most serious on the scale of 4.

As from Saturday 24th November until Monday 26th November bad weather will affect the region, with the worst being from 6pm Saturday till midday Sunday, where heavy rain and winds up to 140km especially over high ground. There is also an orange warning in place for high waves on the north coast and Porto Santo which could reach 7 metres. 

The presidents Civil Protection recognises there are places that are vulnerable especially after the bad weather the North of the Island had 2 weeks ago, and are warning people to stay at home and if you need to go out to be very careful and stay away from rivers and waterfalls.

Please join my blog on the side to receive updates over the weekend.

Meteoalarm

Weather Update 21.30 Saturday 24th

Heavy rain has been falling for a while now, the red alert has been extended by 3 hours till 3pm Sunday 25th, as charts show there could still be large amounts of rainfall.The wind has become a less of a problem, here in Caniço the wind is not really strong, but is expected to pick up over the next 24 hours, but the winds are not going to be as strong as first predicted, with max gusts of 120km over the higher ground.

Weather Update 10.30 Sunday 25th

The weather calmed down over night after some very heavy rain and strong winds that died out around 2 am. This morning the sun is shining but the Institute of Meteorology (IM) has postponed the red alert till Midday today running through to 21.00, with heavy rain, strong wind and the possibility of lightening. 
Some problems have occured in the night with a landslide at Eira do Serrado which is blocking the road. The population of Ponta do Sol are advised not to drink water from the tap, as one of the main water pipes has ruptured affecting more than 80% of the population.

Weather Update 20.30 Sunday 25th

Well we have been on red alert since midday, and I have yet to see a drop of rain or a little wind, hard to believe how they can get this so wrong, and people losing business after closing for the night last night or closing early as everyone stayed at home.

Storm 4th-5th November 2012

More bad weather hit Madeira last night, with the North Coast being hit the hardest.

Ribeira da Janela and Seixal were hit bad with landslides and roads blocked. Some properties have been damaged but no life was lost.

Madeira has had an unusual amount of heavy rain over the last couple of weeks, following almost 18 months of dry weather, so the ground is very dry, and the rain cant soak in as quick as it usually would.

I have collected a selection of photos from the internet and put them together in a set.

More Photos

Waves, Wind & Rain

Today Madeira has been on Orange alert for heavy rain, strong winds and waves of 3.5 - 4.5 metres, This bad weather is starting to clear now and the sun is coming out again. Some great photos from Facebook which I'm sharing with you below.

Photo by Carla Oliveira

Photo by Carla Oliveira

Photo by Nelio Sousa

  

Photo by Peter Askew