Charles causes wind of 130 km/hour in Madeira and heads for continent

A storm Charles was at 6:00 today leaving Madeira, where winds of 130 kilometers per hour and amounts of precipitation accumulated in six hours over 240 millimeters were recorded.

“ The situation in Madeira is already becoming less serious. The worst part is over and there's been a lot of precipitation. A amount of precipitation accumulated in six hours of values that exceeded 240 mm in the highlands was recorded,” said meteorologist Paula Leitão.

According to the meteorologist of the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), the wind also blew strong in Madeira, having been recorded bursts that exceeded 130 kilometers per hour in the highlands.

“ The wind was very strong, but it's already decreasing in intensity. There is still heavy precipitation, but we see on the radar that the stain in Madeira begins to move towards the continent ", indicated.

According to Paula Leitão, depression is on its way to mainland Portugal and heavy rainfall and some thunderstorm is already taking place in the southern region.

“ We are now waiting for the approach of depression and if it will move to the northeast as expected ", said.

According to regional civil protection, 351 operational personnel were registered. At 06:15 responding to 128 occurrences, including falls from trees, landslides and floods.

Madeira began to be affected by the storm at 9 p.m., leading the (IPMA) to put the whole island under red warning, the highest level because of the heavy rain and wind, until 6 a.m,

The warning then passed to orange, with forecasts of gusts in the order of 130 kilometers hours in the highest areas until 12 noon, keeping the rain “sometimes persistent strong” until 09:00.

Due to adverse weather conditions, the Madeira Regional Government determined the closure of school establishments and non-essential services until 13.00.

Closed are also the pedestrian routes, museums, gardens and farms, three cruise ships were cancelled and the voyages of the ship Lobo Marinho between the Madeira and Porto Santo islands.