The British Foreign Office has issued an urgent warning to millions of holidaymakers as Portugal braces for its most extreme heatwave on record. Sources confirm that temperatures are expected to soar past 45°C in parts of the Algarve and Lisbon, potentially triggering wildfires and water shortages. The warning, posted on the Foreign Office’s travel advisory page, advises British nationals to stay hydrated, avoid peak sun hours, and monitor local fire alerts.
Uncovered documents from the Portuguese meteorological agency show that this heatwave is linked to a high-pressure system that has stalled over the Iberian Peninsula, drawing scorching air from North Africa. The same system has already caused devastating wildfires in Spain, with Portugal now at “extreme risk” of similar outbreaks. The Foreign Office’s warning comes as more than 2 million British tourists are expected to visit Portugal this August.
Travel operators are reported to be scrambling to issue their own guidance, while local authorities have opened cooling centres and banned outdoor work during peak heat. The heatwave, which the Portuguese government has declared a “national emergency,” is expected to last at least another 10 days. This is not a drill: the money follows the heat, and the bodies follow the money.
Insurance payouts for heat-related claims are set to spiral, while the real cost is measured in lives and lost revenue. The Foreign Office has urged holidaymakers to keep emergency numbers handy and follow local advice. But as the mercury rises, the only question is: how high will the death toll go before the suits in Whitehall take real action?
