Storm Charles: State of alert issued as Portugal to be battered by heavy rain and 160kph winds

Schools have been closed after a state of alert has been issued across Portugal due to Storm Charles, which is expected to bring winds of up to 160kph.The storm is expected to make landfall in Portugal on Wednesday, and forecasters warn it will have a high impact as it has gathered warm sea water from tropical latitudes in the Atlantic, increasing its capacity for rainfall.According to Net Weather, while an official red alert covers the southern half of Portugal’s mainland and the Madeira archipelago, the state of alert is nationwide, and the government has ordered all schools and non-essential public services to close. People in areas under red alert can expect heavy rain, rough seas, and risk of flooding from river overflows. Darkening skies above Portugal, and the weather forecast issued by the IPMA (Armando Franca AP, IPMA)The U.S. embassy and consulate in Portugal has warned locals and travellers to avoid coastal areas, not to travel outside unless necessary, and to stay away from trees and power lines. According to The Portugal Resident, government weather authority expert Jorge Ponte told the media that Portugal will face a “quite complex” situation this Wednesday. Ponte also warned that the storm also has the capacity to create what’s known as a sting jet. This is an air current that descends rapidly inside an extratropical depression and can hit with great intensity. This phenomenon, which occurs in a relatively small and localised area, can produce very strong wind gusts, which may exceed 160 kilometres per hour, and cause significant damage.The sting jet created by Storm Kristin in early 2026 killed at least five people, and left millions of euros’ damage in its wake, according to the BBCPeople gathering umbrellas in Portugal (AP)Storm Kristin also left over 850,000 people without power and was called an "extreme climatic event" by the government.Airports are also being hit by the storm, with 183 flights being cancelled at Lisbon airport, and surrounding airports also experiencing cancellations and delays. While Portugal is expected to bear the brunt of the weather phenomenon, it is expected to then travel to Italy, along the Alps, and maybe even reaching as far as the French Riviera by November 12. Travellers are encouraged to check their flight status if they are going to areas impacted by Storm Charles. Northeast England and Wales can also expect rain from a simultaneous storm, Storm Bruna, which is not expected to reach high-impact levels. .