Storm Charles Portugal: Red Warnings and What’s Closed

Portugal is under a nationwide state of alert on Wednesday 11 November 2026 as Storm Charles brings heavy rain, damaging winds and huge waves, closing schools and non-essential public services and forcing Web Summit to cancel the second day of its Lisbon technology conference. The national weather service IPMA issued red warnings for rain and wind in nine mainland districts, including Lisbon, Setúbal and Faro, with gusts of around 120 km/h and up to 140 km/h in the most exposed places.

The storm’s track has shifted further south than first forecast, so the Alentejo coast and the Algarve now look set to bear the brunt, with Lisbon hit less severely than feared, Euronews Portugal reported. Here is what is happening, what it means for travellers and what comes next.

Where Are the Red Weather Warnings?

IPMA’s red warnings cover Castelo Branco, Leiria, Santarém, Lisboa, Portalegre, Setúbal, Évora, Beja and Faro. The rain warning runs from 9:00 to 18:00 local time (GMT) and the wind warning from 9:00 to 21:00. All other mainland districts are under orange warnings from 12:00 to 21:00 for rough seas, with waves of five to seven metres and a maximum of up to 13 metres in some places. Current warnings are on the IPMA website.

Portugal’s National Maritime Authority warned that sea conditions would worsen until midday on Thursday, with gusts possibly reaching 168 km/h offshore. By 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, 18 harbour bars had been closed and access to the coastline was banned.

What Has Closed Because of Storm Charles?

• Schools and public services: schools and non-essential public services are closed across mainland Portugal, and the government has ordered remote working for public servants.
• Outdoor spaces: outdoor events are suspended, and parks, gardens and wooded areas are off-limits because of the risk of falling trees, Xinhua reported, citing Interior Minister Luís Neves.
• Shops: the supermarket chain Pingo Doce closed its stores, according to Euronews Portugal.
• Transport: long-distance coaches were halted, rail and river ferry services were cut or restricted, flights were cancelled and ships were held in port.

Why Did Web Summit Cancel Day 2?

Prime Minister Luís Montenegro said on Tuesday evening that the government had recommended suspending the conference’s Wednesday programme, partly because many of the roughly 70,000 attendees are foreign visitors who are less familiar with Portuguese emergency procedures, The Irish Times reported. Web Summit told ticket holders that the government had formally advised that, because of “tidal flooding, severe disruption to public transport and the impact of high winds on external structures”, Day 2 should not go ahead.

“The safety and security of our attendees, staff and contractors is always our absolute priority,” Web Summit said. It aims to hold Day 3 on Thursday 12 November as planned once the storm passes, subject to guidance from the authorities. Attendees should check Web Summit’s official site and the event app for updates.

What Damage Has the Storm Caused So Far?

On Tuesday, flooding briefly closed several roads in Lisbon and submerged cars, and about 2,000 customers lost power, mainly in southern mainland Portugal, according to Xinhua, citing grid operator E-Redes. In Madeira, the storm caused more than 130 incidents overnight, mostly flooding, landslides and fallen trees. A 78-year-old man who went missing in Funchal after a stream burst its banks was rescued alive, Euronews Portugal reported, citing DN Madeira. Madeira’s civil protection service said “the worst has passed” on the island. No deaths had been reported at the time of writing.

What Should Travellers to Portugal Do?

If you are flying to or from Lisbon, Faro or Madeira this week, check your airline’s app before leaving for the airport, as cancellations are likely to continue through Wednesday. It is the second major disruption to European air travel this month, after the hoax bomb threats that hit more than 50 flights. Practical steps:

• Follow instructions from Portugal’s civil protection authority (ANEPC) and local police.
• Stay away from beaches, cliffs, riverbanks and seafront promenades, which are closed.
• Avoid parks and tree-lined streets while winds are strong.
• Keep phones charged in case of power cuts, and allow extra time once transport restarts.
• Check your travel insurance for weather-related cover.

When Will Storm Charles Pass?

The strongest winds are expected to ease on Wednesday night, though rough seas could last until midday on Thursday. Intense rain remains possible in Lisbon, Leiria, the Alto Alentejo and Beira Baixa, especially in the late afternoon. Montenegro urged people not to “underestimate or belittle the danger and the risk”. Authorities have the armed forces on standby, mindful of the damage caused by Storm Kristin earlier this year.

Featured image: the Altice Arena in Lisbon’s Parque das Nações, the main Web Summit venue, by -wuppertaler / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. File photo. Image licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

• Euronews Portugal — Mau tempo: “O pior já passou” na Madeira. Depressão Charles aproxima-se do continente (live) (11 November 2026).
• Xinhua — Storm Charles causes flooding, power outages in Portugal (11 November 2026).
• The Irish Times — Web Summit cancels events as Portugal issues ‘state of alert’ amid storm warnings (10 November 2026).
• Business Insider — Web Summit cancels day 2 due to Storm Charles and risks of tidal flood (10 November 2026).
• Euronews — Web Summit Lisbon day 2 cancelled due to Storm Charles (10 November 2026).