Thunderstorm and hail cause trees to fall and floods in Vila Real

After several weeks without rain in Vila Real, this Wednesday afternoon there were thunderstorms and heavy rain, accompanied in some cases by hail and wind in Chaves, Montalegri and Vila Poca de Aguiar.

According to the District Command for Relief Operations (CDOS) of Vila Real, the bad weather that was felt in the area caused three tree falls in Montalegre, Vidago and also on the road that connects this village to the county seat of Chávez.

Heavy rain also caused flooding in Vidago, and during the thunderstorm period there were also several fires in Montalegre, Mondim de Basto, Vila Real, Chavez and Vila Poca de Aguiar.

The Lusa agency contacted Montalegre fire commander David Teixeira, who said that a dry thunderstorm could have started a fire in Grallos, Cervos parish, in a hard-to-reach place that was “gaining proportions”, and emphasized that it was also the rain that put out this fire.

Also in Biglio, in the municipality of Mondim de Basto, according to fire chief Carlos Magalhães, the thunderstorm could have caused another fire in the bush area, which was subjected to a “muscle attack” that quickly extinguished the fire. situation.

The forecast of thunderstorms and showers has led the Instituto de Português do Mar e Atmosfera (IPMA) to place eight districts in the north of the Portuguese mainland, namely Bragança, Viseu, Porto, Guarda, Vila Real, Viana do Castelo, in this environment with a yellow warning. Castelo Branco and Braga.