This could be a week with constraints on air operations at Madeira Cristiano Ronaldo Airport, particularly in arrival movements, if the forecast of strong winds with gusts of up to 80 km/h is confirmed. Thursday could be the most complicated day, given the likelihood that the wind could constantly ‘blow’ above the operational limits (average wind and gust), and could also persist during part of the day on Friday. At least judging by the forecast models from the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), which in recent days has been indicating a tendency for a significant increase in wind intensity from this Wednesday onwards, reaching a peak the following day.
In what is a particularly relevant week due to the arrival and/or departure of those looking forward to a family Christmas, the IPMA regional delegate in Madeira cautiously confirms the worsening of the forecasts, especially with regard to the wind, to DIÁRIO.
“From the afternoon on Wednesday the wind intensity is expected to increase and on the 21st and 22nd (Thursday and Friday) it may be temporarily moderate to strong (30 to 40 km/h), from the north or northeast, with gusts of the order 70 to 80 km/h in mountainous regions and in the extreme east and west of Madeira and in Porto Santo”, describes the meteorologist.
In general, he anticipates that “during this week there may be light and occasional showers on Thursday on the south coast of Madeira and between the 21st and 25th in the mountainous regions and on the north coast. In Funchal, the minimum temperature should vary between 16 and 17 °C and the maximum between 21 and 23 °C”, he adds.
In perspective, this should be (another) dry and mild Christmas in Madeira.