The first snow fell in the Castelo Branco district in eastern Portugal. Unusual rainfall for this time of year occurred a few days after an equally rare October heat wave of nearly 30 degrees.
The first snow fell on Friday on the Serra da Estrela mountain range, near the border with Spain. The government-owned Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) reported that snowfall in the east of the country occurred after the air temperature dropped to almost minus -1 degrees Celsius.
According to forecasters from IPMA, further snowfall is expected until Sunday along with an expected drop in temperatures in the continental part of the country.
This time of year is a rarity
Snowfall in October is very rare in Portugal, as is almost 30-degree heat. Such a heat wave has been present in most of the country since mid-month.
Due to the warm weather and the significant dryness of the ground caused by the lack of rain, several dozen fires in meadows and forest areas have broken out in Portugal in recent days.
Main photo source: Gonçalo Poço Photography/Facebook